If you are looking for a book to give to a woman this holiday season, consider After the Ball by Barb Greenberg. The tale of two familiar fairy tale princesses who have been disappointed by the reality that the lives they were living with their handsome princes was far from “happily ever after”, they rely on one another and a wise mentor to proactively change their situations. Reflective and thoughtful, the two princesses face their fears with courage.

The book made me think of the wonderful women in my life who have made me stronger. While there are many, here I’ll mention my mother who never wavered in her commitment to education as a way for women to advance. Her ongoing pride in my accomplishments — whether big or little, coupled with her drive for excellence continues to inspire me.

Last week I attended a “ladies” birthday lunch for a woman with whom I had worked for several years (let’s call her Denise). Because many of us did not know one another, Denise’s sister, the hostess, asked each guest to introduce herself and to then use one word to describe Denise. While I know Denise as a colleague and an accomplished businesswoman, the others know her personally. They included two women who had gone to middle school with her in Michigan and had flown to New York from the Mid-west for the occasion. One woman who’d met Denise because their children were at school together choked back tears when her turn came. She described Denise as “nurturing.” Then she went over the one word limit to tell about how painful divorce her had been — and how Denise had been there for her every step of the way. When she stopped talking because she was so emotional that she could no longer speak, there wasn’t a dry eye at the table.

Think about the women in your life. Don’t wait another moment — let them know how much you love and appreciate them.

TAGS: Books, LinkedIn