To My Daughter On International Women’s Day

“To Evelyne:

It seems pretty fitting, on International Women’s Day, to write a letter to the single most important female in my life.

Being your mom is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, but it also fills me with responsibility for everything I want you to know about the world.

Because although you are ‘only’ just eighteen months old (and still so amazingly child-like in everything you do), one day you will be a woman, and, as your mom, I have so many hopes and dreams for the life you will live and lead.

First, and possibly most importantly, know that you don’t belong to anything or anyone.

Never allow yourself to feel like you do.

You—and only you—have total agency over yourself and your body.

Do what makes you happy; happiness and the ability to find joy in your days are so important.

Make friends and keep those friendships alive: they are important, not just when you are young, but throughout your life.

Be proud of being a girl and a woman.

Women are amazing.

(Men are too, of course, and although we are all equal, that does not mean we should not celebrate our differences too. I believe it’s diversity and our differences that make us great.)

You can be ALL woman and still rule the corporate world—should that be your dream.

Just like a great man can choose to stay at home and raise his children every day, do what sets your soul on fire.

Find joy in the little things. (You will soon enough see they are what really matters).

Don’t take things for granted; your relationships, your health, your success.

Work at them and they will flourish.

Make a difference in the world, and aim to leave it a little better than it was when you entered it, be it by having raised a healthy child, grown your own vegetable garden, or fought for something you believed in.

I hope you will always love shopping with me and Appa.

Enjoy your life—it is frivolous, fun, and fabulous.

Never let anyone tell you that labels define you—not the ones sewn into the back of your dress nor the ones people are keen to put on you.

Don’t let yourself be consumed with negative people and their negative energy.

Rise above pettiness.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Thanutra Choi from Queens, NY. You can follow her journey on Instagram and TikTok. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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