It is Women’s History Month. I am surrounded by women in my life who make history every day. They are not in the headlines or trending on social media. But they make the world better as healers, teachers, artists, writers, readers and nurturers. Most are still here but many have passed away.

Margaret Ryan Wagner, my maternal grandmother worked for women’s suffrage as a young woman and then as a young mother found herself alone, raising five children during the Great Depression after her husband died suddenly. Life was hard but she did it. The grandmother I knew was always a serious woman, focused and determined. She had to be. She found and held a job which put food on the table for her family. It may have been a meager meal sometimes but it was there. Her five children grew up to become college educated professionals, veterans who served their country proudly and then parents themselves. She never made headlines but she lowered her shoulder and pushed forward everyday of her life. Her history is my history.

Anne Henrietta Mueller Troy, my paternal grandmother’s fate was similar but you might say a bit more extreme. Her husband also died suddenly leaving her with FIFTEEN children to raise ranging in age from six weeks to 22 years old. . . during The Great Depression. The stories those fifteen brothers and sisters could tell. They made it and found their way to success and created loving families of their own. Their history is my history.

This army of cousins, sisters and friends who tumbled into my life are part of my history. They are healers, teachers, artists, writers and nurturers. They are founders of small businesses. They do things that make me say “wow”. They are talented. They inspire. Their achievements may not be historic. They are living lives of purpose and they hold others up rather than beat them down. On the way through the glass ceiling, they built their ladder not on the shoulders of others but with support of, and while supporting, others. And their ladders are strong enough to hold others. They are the mothers of successful female executives, physicians, educators and perhaps the grandmothers of a future president. They are wise and grounded. They love and care deeply. They may not be making headlines or be written about in history books but this world is better because they are in it. I am so proud that women like this are part of my history.

Let’s recognize and celebrate the achievements that women like those who make up my history make everyday, often through necessity, adversity or inequality. Let’s celebrate the quiet strength and compassion of women this month and every month.

There are lots of wonderful, loving and inspiring men in my history but this is Women’s History Month. I’ll write about the men when this administration officially declares the remaining eleven months of the year Men’s History Month.