Our San Diego chapter

Girls need girls. It’s a fact. Whether it’s ogling over our latest crush (and don’t pretend we EVER grow out of it), crying over our most recent disappointment, laughing at our absurdities, or confiding our deepest, farthest, back-of-the-closet secret; we need to be heard. Through sharing our experiences we have an opportunity to explore our own thoughts, work through our emotions and discover new kernels of truths.

For some time I thought I could figure out how to eliminate insecurities, fears and doubts for girls and women. If only I had the right formula, magic pill or workshop. I could find a way to instill authentic confidence in girls and women everywhere so they were free to fulfill if not surpass their potential and powerfully contribute to the world. The reality is that I can’t. I don’t have a cure-all that will remove the challenges and obstacles inundating the human experience. No human being for that matter has that ability.

My revelation emerged from a company meeting where a group of us were sitting around chitchatting about nothing really (like girls do). We talked about work, dabbled in politics and circumnavigated the uncharted waters of relationships. That’s when it happened; our conversation about nothing became about everything. We brought up issues of quarreling co-workers, struggles with body image, society’s high expectations, third-world countries and naturally, boys.

Before you knew it, our “business meeting” had transformed into a group of healing listening, compassionate respect and validating patience. There were no epiphanies, or calendar-making breakthroughs. If it were any other day, I would have over looked it completely, but not this time. The light bulb went off and I wondered if all girls had this kind of outlet to be heard and to hear others?

It’s important that even if we don’t have the immediate answers that we are made to feel we’re not alone. There’s comfort in that. There’s fearlessness in knowing you have a crew backing you up, a group of women protecting you and looking out for you. That’s when we realized this tangible community is vital to our existence. If we are going to change this world, if we are going to empower one another and ignite a revolution, it’s going to require that we come together and support one another. If a man chooses to be an island, he can be alone all by himself. I’m not interested in going through life’s safari alone. We’re stronger and more equipped to handle life’s curve balls when we have a whole team out there on the field with us.

So we created local chapters for girls to get plugged in and find other like-minded women out to make a difference in the world. We need an army of women, a dream team of relentless activists who will dedicate one night a week for an hour or so to a group of women who also want to leave this world better than how they found it. We already have chapters in most big cities, but we need more. If there’s one in your hometown, then get involved! If not, start your own.

We meet once a week, provide the content for the meeting, the girls and the space. As little as three members, as big as almost fifty in our San Diego Chapter. Either way, it’s an opportunity for girls to empower other girls. Where women on the same wave length can come together and support one another.

And I get it, you’re busy. We all are. But it’s not for us, it’s for you. You need it, we all do. But better yet, we deserve it in our lives. We deserve taking some time for ourselves once a week and having an outlet to talk about things that matter in this world. We deserve being listened to and having a place to share. I am that girl just launched local chapters to make that a reality. Badass women coming together to change the world. We need you in this revolution, we need your voice and your life’s unique brand. Make it a reality, make you a priority. Get involved, sign up, and start your own. I don’t care what you do, but 2010 is the year for you.

It would be an honor to have you come in the name of i am that girl and share your life’s journey with us. To find out more about our local chapters, or if you want to be a badass and start your own, contact Rosalind Adams at rosalindzoeadams@gmail.com.

Until then, keep rockin’ this world and being That Girl.

alexis jones, empowerment, forum, local, meeting, San Diego, sisterhood Hide

I sat in a Executive Board meeting from 9am until almost one discussing you. Yes, those of you out in the cyber world reading my thoughts on this screen. Despite it being a gorgeous, perfect 80 degree, sunny California day, the board members and I patiently sat in an cold, austere room arguing over who YOU are and what you want from us. Now don’t get me wrong, the best part about loving what I do is that even the temptation of God’s gift to weather still isn’t enough enticement to prevent me from meticulously pounding out the details of this company and providing you with our very best as we seek to give ourselves a website makeover.

With all that said, we were working on creating a defined target market to draw a circle around our readers and hopefully, in about five adjectives, encapsulate the majority of you. It was only after our Saturday (yes we work on Saturday) that it occurred to me, that I myself am a walking contradiction. I don’t know about you but, depending on the weather, mood I’m in, who I just spoke to, where I’m at, what I’m wearing, I’ll give you a different adjective to describe myself every time.

For instance, last night I laid on my couch flipping back and forth between the adorablely sweet You’ve Got Mail, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and the incredulously gory Sci-Fi Chronicles of Riddick, staring Vin Diesel. Are you kidding me? You couldn’t get more opposite and, yet, as I lounged in sweat pants and a grubby ol’ t-shirt, painting my nails pink, there was something about each movie that spoke to me.

Now if you know anything about me, you know it’s my dream to be a real life, Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider. And yet, the hopeless romantic, southern bell is patiently awaiting her prince charming. Sometimes I want to be prim and proper, feminine and flighty, and sometimes I want to be a hard-core, cut the B.S. businesswoman. Yet despite the blatant contrast, I am the same girl, struggling to find out who I am and what I really want. Aren’t we all?

Life is such a crazy journey; it’s fascinating and terrifying, it’s hopeful and heartbreaking, it’s a roller coaster of highs and lows and, yet, maybe that’s the point.  We are a jumbled mess of juxtaposition on an adventure where we get to transform and grow and, somewhere along the way, all we want is a place where we can come and feel that we’re not alone. I want that for us, very much me included.

I know I write these obscure blogs and I sometimes sit and wonder who is out there actually reading them. I wonder where you are and what you look like. I ponder over what you do for a living and what in the universe drove you to this blog of all the millions in the world. I know I don’t know each of you personally, that I may not know what specifically is going on in your life, but I get it. I really, really do. Because I’m just as confused and lost, hopeful and optimistic, eager and scared. Despite knowing better, I struggle to have the perfect body, still need mega advice on my finances, and am searching for a “great guy,” who is nowhere to be found. There are times when I could take on the entire world and times when I’m terrified and crumble under the weight of a future of ambiguity and no guarantees.

All I’m saying is rather than treat you and i am that girl as a “business” and take traditional steps to “Identifying and capitalizing on our target demographic,” I’m going to treat you like a friend – one I may never even get the chance to meet face to face. I believe we need this place, a place for US to go… whoever we are. But I want us to be able to talk and share and use each other’s dim lanterns to shower more light on this treacherous life path.

So, I’m working on defying business standards and trusting that “If you build it, they will come.” We need you, we need all of you, because the most beautiful thing about life is that we have the option to share it with those around us.

Spread the world, because we’re on the brink of building us the most bad ass chick site to date.

photo by corrado alisonno

angelina jolie, business, i am that girl, meeting, meg ryan, personalilty, quarterlife, tom hanks, vin diesel, website Hide