Community

Women are cool. We just naturally feel the need to bond and take care of other women. Even when I meet or have contact with a woman that doesn’t strike me as “best friend material”, my brain still starts going through all the ways I might be able to support her through whatever trial she is going through. I am sure we have all had those women who have even been mean or hateful to us, but if/when we find out they are struggling or unhappy about something (usually why they lash out with bad vibes to begin with) our anger and hurt melts a bit and that caring community nature begins to bubble up to the top. We are just designed that way.

I just helped our own Pat Predmore, local and national pillar in the birth community, with her Birth Doula Workshop. I have to say we are SOOO lucky to have Pat here teaching your local doulas. She is the trainer of all the trainers of doula nationwide for DONA, International. She is amazing and really knows her stuff. Julia and I were both in the same Birth Doula Workshop 4 ½ years ago and are so honored to have had that opportunity to learn and continue to learn under her. Point being….she empowers the BEST doulas and a whole new batch of them just finished their training on Sunday. Julia and I both try and help out when Pat does a training and I take away something from each group and what really struck me this time is what a sense of community I felt. It is always reaffirming to meet and bond with women who are as “coo coo for cocoa puffs” for birth stuff as you are, but I was just so proud to see these strong amazing women going forth with a mission to help and support their community of women. Doula-ing in definition is involved in birth or the postpartum period, but those of us who are doulas know that doula-ing happens all the time between women in many different circumstances. So tap into your own inner doula and allow yourself to be aware of what is going on in your own communities of women and beyond. Find ways you can support women. Take that step outside of yourself. I promise you it is rewarding beyond measure.