Saturday was the gown giveaway that I and some friends have been working on for months. We gave gowns to 7 incredible young women. Some also got shoes and purses and most got fragrance, cosmetics and jewelry. But what each of us took away was so incredibly much more gratifying. From C, I got a jolt of courage. She walked through her shyness and physical limitations and from her eyes shown triumph as she looked at herself in her swanky gown. From M, I saw the self-esteem of a young lady clad in an over-the-top dress that only served to enhance her panache. From T, I saw a young woman who had had to scrap her way each and every day and the dawning of recognition that something was being given to her with no strings attached and the wonder of that. From C2, the blunt fierce honesty that she wouldn't even think about taking a drug or drink on prom night cause that is why they took her from mom and she herself had been clean for over a year. From J, who got such great joy from trying on dress after dress just to hear the ooh's and aaah's of a bunch of strange women, I gained understanding of how important women can be to each other. From A, sheer joy just watching her just giggle and twirl. And my favorite of all, the young tomboy who had never worn a dress and who reached out in trust and allowed herself to be transformed into a beautiful young woman and who almost physically drank in our amazement and awe.
My fiercest hope is that each of these young women will allow themselves to someday receive the joy that I received Saturday - to feel the joy of paying it forward. To feel the power of women helping women. I truly feel the power of helping a woman become her very best - and that is a very important thing. I am blessed.
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