Taking a step back

This was was in Facebook feed this morning and caught my eye. I noticed that a lot of women were 'loving' and 'liking' it. I wonder if their perspective would change if they took the word women out of it and applied it to people. So I have re written it here...

This is for the women who don’t give a fuck. The women who are first to get naked, howl at the moon and jump into the sea. The women who drink too much whisky, stay up too late and have sex like they mean it. The women who know they aren’t sluts because they enjoy sex, but human beings with a healthy sexual appetite. The women who will ask you for what they need in bed. This is for the women who seek relentless joy; the ones who know how to laugh with their whole souls. The women who speak to strangers because they have no fear in their hearts. The ones who wear “night make up” in the morning or don’t own mascara. The women who know their worth, who plant their feet and roar in their brilliance. The women who aren’t afraid to tell a man to get the fuck out of her heart if he doesn’t honour her heart. This is for the women who rock combat boots with frilly skirts. The women who swear like truck drivers. The women who hold the people who harass or wrong them with fierce accountability. The women who flip gender norms and false limitations the bird and live to run successful companies giving “the man” a run for his name. The ones who don’t find their success a compliment just because they have a vagina. Women like Gloria Steinem who, when she was told, “We want a writer, not a woman. Go home,” kept writing anyway. This is for the women who drink coffee at midnight and wine in the morning and dare you to question it. For the women who open doors for men and are confident enough to have doors opened for them. Who use “no” to be in service for themselves. Who don’t give a damn about pleasing the world and do sweetly as they wish. For the superheroes—the single moms who work three jobs to make it. I salute your resilient, cape-flapping, ambitious selves. This is for the women who throw down what they love, and don’t waste time following society’s pressures to exist behind a white picket fence. The women who create wildly, unbalanced, ferociously and in a blur at times. The women who know how to be busy and know how to plant their feet in the earth and get grounded. These are the women I want around me. Words by: Janne Robinson

This is for the people who don’t give a fuck. This is for people who are first to get naked, howl at the moon and jump into the sea. The people who drink too much whisky, stay up too late and have sex like they mean it. The people who know they aren’t bad because they enjoy sex, but human beings with a healthy sexual appetite. The people who will ask you for what they need in bed. This is for the people who seek relentless joy; the ones who know how to laugh with their whole souls. The people who speak to strangers because they have no fear in their hearts. The ones who wear “night make up” in the morning or don’t own mascara. The people who know their worth, who plant their feet and roar in their brilliance. The people who aren’t afraid to tell another person to get the fuck out of their heart if they don’t honour their hearts. This is for the people who rock combat boots with frilly skirts. The people who swear like truck drivers. The people who hold the people who harass or wrong them with fierce accountability. The people who flip gender norms and false limitations the bird and live to run successful companies. The ones who don’t find their success a compliment just because of their genitalia. People who, when they were told, “We want a you” persisted. This is for the people who drink coffee at midnight and wine in the morning and dare you to question it. For the people who open doors for others and are confident enough to have doors opened for them. Who use “no” to be in service for themselves. Who don’t give a damn about pleasing the world and do sweetly as they wish. For the superheroes—the single parents who work three jobs to make it. I salute your resilient, cape-flapping, ambitious selves. This is for the people who throw down what they love, and don’t waste time following society’s pressures to exist in a box. The people who create wildly, unbalanced, ferociously and in a blur at times. The people who know how to be busy and know how to plant their feet in the earth and get grounded. These are the people I want around me. Words edited by: Julia Robertson

This is for the men who don’t give a fuck. The men who are first to get naked, howl at the moon and jump into the sea. The men who drink too much whisky, stay up too late and have sex like they mean it. The men who know they aren’t sluts because they enjoy sex, but human beings with a healthy sexual appetite. The men who will ask you for what they need in bed. This is for the men who seek relentless joy; the ones who know how to laugh with their whole souls. The men who speak to strangers because they have no fear in their hearts. The ones who wear suits in the morning or don’t own one. The men who know their worth, who plant their feet and roar in their brilliance. The men who aren’t afraid to tell a woman to get the fuck out of his heart if she doesn’t honour his heart. This is for the men who rock combat boots with shorts. The men who swear like truck drivers. The men who hold the people who harass or wrong them with fierce accountability. The men who flip gender norms and false limitations the bird and live to run successful companies. The ones who don’t find their success a compliment just because they have a penis. Men like Nelson Mandela who, after spending 27 years in prison, upon his release became President of South Africa and ended Apartheid. This is for the men who drink coffee at midnight and wine in the morning and dare you to question it. For the men who open doors for women and are confident enough to have doors opened for them. Who use “no” to be in service for themselves. Who don’t give a damn about pleasing the world and do sweetly as they wish. For the superheroes—the single dads who work three jobs to make it. I salute your resilient, cape-flapping, ambitious selves. This is for the men who throw down what they love, and don’t waste time following society’s pressures to exist behind a desk. The men who create wildly, unbalanced, ferociously and in a blur at times. The men who know how to be busy and know how to plant their feet in the earth and get grounded. These are the men I want around me. Words edited by: Julia Robertson

Are they still the people you want around you?