Women Who Rise: Leadership and Resilience

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Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf. And today's episode, we're still celebrating
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Women's History Month with our theme, Women Who Rise, Strength,
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Leadership, and Empowerment.
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Today, we're highlighting Mia Muriel Bowser's leadership in fighting for district
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funding and standing firm in the face of a possible $1 billion budget cut.
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We'll also share my journey of resilience in completing a half marathon this
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past Saturday, despite facing doubt, an inch on the right toe, and some brutal hills.
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So let's dive in.
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This one is all about fighting for what matters and pushing through challenges.
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Now, as I've said before, leadership isn't just about having a title.
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It's about standing in the gap for the people who rely on you.
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And Mia Muriel Bowser is proving just that.
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When the latest government funding bill threatened to strip $1 billion from the D.C.
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Budget, It wasn't just a political issue.
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It was a crisis that could have gutted essential services like schools,
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public safety, and community programs.
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But she wasn't alone in this fight. The Senate swiftly passed legislation late
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Friday to protect the district budget, fixing a provision that could have forced devastating cuts.
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And you know who helped make this happen? Women leaders.
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Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, stood up and made it clear that D.C.
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Should be able to use its own tax revenues.
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And this wasn't about federal dollars. It was about ensuring that an entire
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city didn't lose essential funding overnight.
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Now, the bill passed unanimously without dissent. And that is a powerful example
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of what leadership looks like when people work together for the greater good.
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You know, in moments like these, that reminds us that women in leadership matters.
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Policy decisions have real-life consequences.
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And when strong leaders stand up, change happens. And we need more like this.
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Leaders willing to fight for the people they serve.
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Now let's talk about my personal strength. Mental, physical, and spiritual.
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So I did a thing this past Saturday. Well, actually, God did it.
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On Saturday, I ran and walked the Rock and Roll DC Half Marathon.
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But it wasn't just any race. It was my Sabbath, and I was running with an injured
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right toe that had me doubting whether I could even finish.
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I mean, I questioned if I could even be there, and I wondered if my body would hold up.
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And I have to ask.
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When did DC get all these hills? I mean, mile 7 nearly took me out.
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I had to push through with pressure on my sore toe. And no, you will not see
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an image of my feet. Never ever.
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And then, just when I thought I was in the clear, another winding hill at mile
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10, I think it was, tried to test me.
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But guess what? I kept going.
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And just like that, I finished the race. I saw mile 13 and I had to stop and
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take a picture while people were cheering me on to keep going.
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I was like, yeah, let me get this picture so you guys know that I made it to mile 13.
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I mean, how many times in life do we hesitate because of that?
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How often do we question if we can get through a challenge only to realize we
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are stronger than we think?
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Yes this half marathon was tough but
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it's finished and let me just say i was not the last one to cross the finish
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line there were 218 people behind me just i'm just saying but hey i can't help
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but feel grateful grateful for the experience the strength and the journey yes,
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But here's what I also realize. Faith is about trusting the process even when
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you don't have all the answers.
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Resilience is about showing up even when doubt creeps in.
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And strength is about taking one step at a time, literally and figuratively.
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And now, well yes, I am sore, but I'm also victorious. And this medal,
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this moment, it all reminds me of something important.
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That perseverance is power. Your fate will carry you through when doubt tries to hold you back.
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And sometimes the toughest moments bring the most rewarding victories.
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This race also reminded me that our limits are often mental, not physical.
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So what does Mia Bowser's leadership and my half marathon have in common, you may ask?
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Well, they are both about rising to the challenge, standing strong, and refusing to give up.
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My dear listeners, leadership requires endurance.
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It's about fighting battles that others may not even see.
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Personal resilience is no different.
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When life throws challenges our way, we have two choices. We either give up or we keep going.
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And in both cases, success is about faith, focus, and taking it one step at a time.
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So my question to you is, what challenge are you facing right now that requires you to push forward?
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As we close out today's episode,
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Here's what I want you to take with you. Women like Mia Bowser are showing us
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what real leadership looks like.
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Strength isn't just about physical ignorance. It's about faith,
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perseverance, and believing you can rise beyond doubt.
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And we all have moments where we wonder if we can make it.
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But we can, taking it one step at a time.
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And here's your challenge for this week I want you to stand strong in something
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that matters to you whether it's advocating for a cause or pushing through a personal challenge,
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I also want you to find a moment to celebrate a win even if it's just taking
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the next step forward and remind yourself you are stronger than you think,
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I want to thank you for joining me today And remember,
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live boldly in your power.
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And if it gets tough, just breathe.
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You still have the strength to rise.
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So until next time, dear listeners, stay strong, stay inspired,
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keep rising, and keep living in your power.