Written by Ally Abruscato. Photo courtesy of Ally Abruscato.
Like everybody else, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the women in my life. I’m sure you can think of plenty of women off the top of your head that have shaped you. I know I can. Whether it’s family or friends or friends that feel like family, there are so many supportive women in my life. Unfortunately, I don’t have the space to name them all and go through the reasons why every single one is a superstar. But just know that I am thankful for all of the women in my life for they have made an immeasurable impact on me.
My family is filled with strong and capable women. First, we’ll talk about my Aunt Gina. She’s loud and energetic and the best at everything she does. If you’re playing a board game, you want her on your team, trust me. Her enthusiasm and drive inspires me to always try harder. But, she also values having a good time and encourages me not to work too hard. Second, we have my Aunt’s mother, my grandma. My grandma is one of my biggest fans. If my mom posts an accomplishment of mine on Facebook, you can bet my grandma will be one of the first comments. She has always been there for me. If we’re talking about one grandmother, we have to talk about the other. My mother’s mother, who we call vovó, currently lives in Portugal. Although we’ve had a bit of a disconnect because of the language barrier, I know that I would probably not be here today without her. She made great sacrifices when my mother was a child so that the family could come to the United States. For all that she did then, I am forever grateful.
My mother is by far the most important woman, and arguably person, in my life. It’s hard to express in words everything she has done for me. As a child, she held my hand and wiped my tears. But even as I got older, she continued to do the same. She is there for me like no one else. And she is there for everyone in the same way. Always putting others’ needs before her own, she is the definition of selfless. She works harder than anyone I know. Whether it’s for work or her family or even her book club, she puts her all into everything that she does. Seriously, she does research and writes reviews and all that for her book club. It’s intense. She is my inspiration in every way, and I am so lucky to have her as my mother.
I could go on and on about the women that I love. Between my cousins and my extended family and my friends and my teachers and my neighbors and my classmates, I am appreciative of every woman in my life. The support and assistance that comes from a group of women cannot be measured. I am forever in debt to those women in my life that have given me so much. I suggest that you think about who those women are to you. I encourage you to reach out to them and thank them for what they’ve done. I’m sure it will mean the world to them. Happy Women’s History Month.
