Today is International Women’s Day, an event that began in the early 1900’s to celebrate and encourage the women of the world.

Women have come far in the 100+ years since this tradition was born. Women vote, serve in the armed forces and fight in the armed forces, are CEO’s of international corporations, are respected political leaders, can marry whom they want- of either gender (in most places in the world), own property, are in charge of their own reproductive choices  and are listened to and respected. Although this is not universally true, as in countries that are still under extremists’ rule, we continue to stand for equality for all.

Women did not get where we are alone, but through many who led and sacrificed to get us here. Take a moment and think about those leaders.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sandra Day O’Connor, Rosa Parks, Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Teresa, Billie Jean King, Benzair Bhutto,  Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Hillary Rodham Clinton,  and many thousands of others were pioneers and made a difference for all.

The question is what are the traits of these pioneering change makers that had them succeed? What are the traits you admire?

Today, in celebration of International Women’s Day, take a moment and take on practicing one of those traits that you admire. Try practicing one trait you have don’t currently embody. Create some new habits and see what difference that makes for you and those around you. One thing that is common to all those most of us admire is that they wanted to contribute. My commitment is that this inquiry contributed to you.