Sparks in Time Episode 10: Inauguration Day

A Front Row Seat

Sometimes we get a front row seat to history. Sometimes we recognize those moments as they happen, and sometimes we only realize those moments after years of reflection. We are, today, watching history. Yesterday was the last day in our nation’s history when no woman had served as the Vice President of the United States. Today is one of those days when history unfolds before us. How do we capture it?

Capturing Our History

I ask how we capture it because it is something so monumental, so historic, that we must hold onto what it took to arrive at this moment. Centuries of girls grew up not understanding that a woman might one day lead our nation. And yet, the generation of children watching our example today will think it natural, normal, commonplace that women lead nations. How do we capture the history so that we do not forget the days when women in high office seemed radical? Because from this day forth, a woman in the second highest office in the land is our history. And it is a history we should be proud of. Forever part of our identity, and no longer a dream, but a reality. For this woman, that feeling is indescribable.

The Girls Who Got Us Here

I ask how we capture it because I’m not sure myself how to process it. For my whole life, I was told that girls could be whatever they wanted to be. And though I heard those words clearly, they rang hollow. The example I saw was much clearer in my mind and left its own indelible mark: girls could be whatever they wanted to be until it became inconvenient.

It took a lot of girls being “inconvenient”, “loud”, “unladylike”, and “bossy” to get to today. And I am so grateful that there were girls all around me who barreled forward anyways into a world that didn’t want to have to be ready for them. Women who were willing to sacrifice to break those barriers. Who tried, and failed, but lifted others so that we all might inch just a little closer. Women who understood how much the journey to where we are today would hurt, but who did it anyway. We may not know the names of these women, but they are the reason we are here today to witness this history.

And The Girls Who Will Make Tomorrow’s History

I ask how capture it because I want to be able to explain clearly to my young daughters how important today is. How do you tell a child that what was a dream yesterday is a reality today? That they will grow up in a world that might just see them for the value they bring? I want them to own this history, to be empowered by it, to drive forward from it, and continue to make our world better, brighter, kinder. I don’t ever want them to be complacent with this gift, or to let up. Because there are other children out there who need to know that dreams can come true.

With a Feeling of Hope

I can think of a lot of words that capture some of the feelings of today. But the one word that captures the essence of today, for me, is simply, hope. Today gives me hope that girls everywhere have the audacity to keep moving forward, keeping breaking barriers, and forge a history that will make the women who carried us to this moment so, so proud.

So, for me, I choose to capture today with an immensely grateful, but never complacent, feeling of hope.