Formation of Women – Stronger TogetHER
Recently, a friend shared the piece below written by Jen Hatmaker and I thought it was too good to not pass along.
In the wild, when a mama elephant is giving birth, all the other female elephants in the herd back around her in formation. They close ranks so that the delivering mama cannot even be seen in the middle. They stomp and kick up dirt and soil to throw attackers off the scent and basically act like a pack of badasses.
They surround the mama and incoming baby in protection, sending a clear signal to predators that if they want to attack their friend while she is vulnerable, they’ll have to get through 40 tons of female aggression first.
When the baby elephant is delivered, the sister elephants do two things: they kick sand or dirt over the newborn to protect its fragile skin from the sun, and then they all start trumpeting, a female celebration of new life, of sisterhood, of something beautiful being born in a harsh, wild world despite enemies and attackers and predators and odds.
Scientists tell us this: They normally take this formation in only two cases – under attack by predators like lions, or during the birth of a new elephant.
This is what we do, girls. When our sisters are vulnerable, when they are giving birth to new life, new ideas, new ministries, new spaces, when they are under attack, when they need their people to surround them so they can create, deliver, heal, recover…we get in formation. We close ranks and literally have each others’ backs. You want to mess with our sis? Come through us first. Good luck.
And when delivery comes, when new life makes its entrance, when healing finally begins, when the night has passed and our sister is ready to rise back up, we sound our trumpets because we saw it through together. We celebrate! We cheer! We raise our glasses and give thanks.
This is such a beautiful demonstration of love and my mind wandered to the symbolism of elephants – power and strength. Two characteristics that I think women often feel like we fall short. Or we fear that if we come across too powerful or strong it can perceived in a negative way. Sadly, that harshness is most often brought on by the judgement and insecurities of our sisters.
In reading this, I was reminded about the power and strength that come from a formation of women and the importance of our sisterhood.
Find the tribe that supports your vibe.
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with – so choose wisely. Surround yourself with people who support, uplift, and push you to be a better version of yourself.
Your energy is your magnet.
The energy you put out into the world is the same energy you will attract. Shine with positivity, kindness, and generosity. It will make the world more bright and bring more light to you.
When women support each other, magical things happen.
There is an African Proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Whether it is a moment of vulnerability or a call for celebration, we can do more together than we can alone. Get in formation, show up for each other, and make magical things happen.
To my tribe – Let’s rise togetHER. Let’s shine togetHER. Let’s be stronger togetHER. Let’s go farther togetHER!
