When I went to see the new and much anticipated film Wonder Woman, I was not prepared for the excitement that surpassed my expectations. Not only was the film incredible, but it also marked an important and timely message of empowerment for women. I can think of no other hero quite like Wonder Woman, who is a great representation of what it means to be a total, butt kicking feminist, and unapologetically so. Gal Gadot did an amazing job in her portrayal of the powerful, beautiful, strong and courageous role of Diana, the Amazon princess and well skilled, trained warrior. I appreciated her humor, beauty and brains, and the fact that she wasn’t over sexualized. She was a hero who fought for the greater good, embodying strength, and love. As a fellow feminist, a number of things resonated with me that I believe were great lessons that women everywhere can learn and benefit from. When the film started it showed an island full of smart, strong, and beautiful women who were training for battle. These women were not in traditional roles as submissive wives, catering to men, caring for children, and silently walking through their town. They were mighty women, who embodied a stature that likely would intimidate any man that dared to cross them, or disrupt their way of life. As Diana was being trained different things were said to her such as, “Don’t doubt yourself” and “never let your guard down.” I can’t imagine better words of training and encouragement for woman of all ages to meditate on, while braving the state of the world as it is today. As Diana boldly and bravely began to embark on her journey for justice she was warned by her mother to remain where she had been her whole life, to which Diana responded, “Who will I be if I stay?” She knew that if she didn’t go out into the world to protect those who needed it, there’d likely be that longing of “what if?” Additionally, Gal Gadot’s dialogue with Chris Pine was funny and a nice touch to the film. They had great chemistry, and while she did appear to catch feelings for him her main priority was to fight for what she believed in. Wonder Woman is a cultural and legendary icon for the masses, and an important part of the history of what it can mean to be a powerful woman.
About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...