jane - 03/01/14 02:08 PM

I am a 19 year old girl studying Information Technology.It is amazing to learn how wonderful and brave all these women are and i hope to be among their numbers someday. The one thing i have learnt from their abundantly enlightening advise is to be unafraid and live life to the fullest...and look good doing it!
HAPPY WOMEN S DAY

Di - 02/04/14 11:02 AM

1. Look after your friends and family: in the end your happiness depends on them.

2. If you work hard and look after your colleagues and clients you can always feel proud of your work life, even when things go wrong (which they will .

3. Don t beat yourself up too much when you make mistakes. Everybody does it. Learn from them: not just how to avoid making the same mistakes again, but also how to deal with mistakes when you (inevitably make new ones.

4. Don t assume that because somebody is confident they know what they are talking about (or that because you are not confident you do not .

5. Don t be defensive: even if you feel criticism is unfair, try to figure out where it is coming from and what you can learn from it. Nobody ever enjoys criticism, but it can be valuable, so it s worth learning to pause, breathe and consider rather than immediately putting your hackles up.

6. Don t assume you are not smart enough to solve the problem. Think hard and who knows?

Irene - 01/08/14 06:29 AM

I am 50. I live in Singapore. 5 things I would change:

a Don t worry about what others think of you, worry about what you do for others.
b Splurging rounds of drinks or meal treats does not make your friend a better friend. Instead spend time, listen to their problems and help them.
c Don t pursue material symbols - whether it is the car you covet, the jewellery someone else wears. Everything becomes unfashionable, you start over again always, and it costs you so much money, you won t be able to retire.
d Don t listen to your parents about the job you should take. Take the job you want.
e The man you marry is the decision you choose. Take time, choose wisely. Or you waste time in your life.

chas - 12/17/13 06:26 PM

I am a 75 year old male married to the same woman for 46 years. I enjoyed your comments (by the women and I think they are very good advice for other women.

SC - 12/15/13 12:28 PM

I am 38, an academic . I would have told my younger self -
1. To love the way you look - the waist wont grow any slimmer and the boobies arent going to grow bigger either. But neither matters, so long as you smile.
2. To try out as many guys as possible, and not to rush inot marriage with the first man who came along.
3. To be less careless about money - and to spend on yourself.
4. to be selfish
Cheers

NajmuzZAMAN - 12/09/13 07:27 AM

Regardless of the issue being discussed I would like to add something on a lighter note, like my support for every woman who suffers .But being human i would like to exaggerate on humanitarian basics from every entity especially woman & equally men .

pat - 11/15/13 09:47 AM

If I could have a talk with my 18 year old self, now I m 56, I would tell me...
Don t worry about getting married while young, instead make your parents pay to send u to the school of fashion and design like u wanted. U need to go, u need to use your talents and u can do it.

Don t have kids till your around 30. Get a career first. U can have kids later and take care of them better.

When u do marry, marry a man where u want to live for the rest of your life. So u can be happy.

Marry for money. Don t let it brother u if guys call u a gold digger. If u do as I tell u you ll have a career and money so it shouldn t matter.

JoAnn - 10/18/13 03:20 PM

Five things I wish I had told my younger self:

1. Always listen to your instincts, don't try to unravel them with logic.

2. Who you choose to marry is a career decision; connect with a true partner who shares your values, vision, and goals for the future.

3. The Young JoAnn has to take care of the Old JoAnn (put your financial safety net in order early in life, while you are young so to always be able to take care of yourself when you are older.

4. The things you fear seldom materialize, pain and disappointment will come from some other, unexpected place. Steel yourself for it, and be ready for anything.

5. To quote Winston Churchill; "When you are going through Hell, keep going !" That is my favorite quote and I tell myself that today.

I am a psychotherapist living in Phoenix AZ, I've helped a lot of people, but often neglected myself. Now, I'm listening to my needs too, and that is something everyone should be told to do, early in life, by someone who cares.

Laura - 10/17/13 03:23 AM

If I had the chance to talk to my younger self, I would tell myself not to skip school, skip work and to hold onto a job more than a week. I was a mess and it took a while to straighten myself out. at 21 I can say I graduated highschool on honour roll, I attended a first year of college and I am in a 7 year relationship. I still he some progress to make, I have to learn to respect my parents opinions, learn to value myself more and gain a back bone and strong work ethic. I love school, I actually love homework and learning.

Audrey - 09/24/13 09:34 PM

Now at 50 in retrospect, I wish I sent more time developing my mind and further my educational pursuits instead of being concerned about the latest beauty, hair and fashion trends

or about a guy I was crazy about.

I also wished I valued who me as a person and my ideas - and not play small which I did for a long time.

Sylvia - 09/08/13 05:01 PM

Dear Ms. Suni Harford:

My name is Sylvia Lydia Morelos. I am currently living in San Francisco, CA, where a lot of chaotic .....is going on. Too much that is beyond ridiculous in some parts of san francisco to even care to mention. Anyway, I admire women like you. I look up to women like you. I am 39 now and have been through a *lot*, to say the least. In the future I plan on leaving the U.S.A. to re educate myself in another country. I am a human rights activist/photojournalist (i.e. I stand up against violence against women by women and against violence against women by men. I don't condone abuse nor human rights abuses, and I don't care what their beliefs, political, gender, religion, faith, education level, etc., is. Human rights should not b partial to political or any thing else. I believe in efficiency, I stand against macho attitudes no matter where with reason and logic. Impromptu works too. I am discriminated against for....but I still struggle and make it through. Thanks!

Souhir - 08/19/13 06:15 AM

I would say:

Don't be bothered about what others say or think.

Pursue your own progress and well being before taking

care of others. It is indeed of an utmost importance, believe me"

I will engrave this in my head early enough:

"When I change, the world will change"

George - 07/03/13 11:37 AM

I am not a woman, at the first and at the second sight...
Here, in the America, where the Light at Hill is (for the whole World to admire in awe...) - I use always the opportunity to inject the information that Women Day exsists, and why it came into existence. It is a story. How ma women were burned THIS YEAR in the clothing factories i Bangladesh?! This is the background...
I ould like to add something on a lighter note, like my suppor for every woman who "suffers" wardrobe malfunction or is being pestered for a lovely dress causing "boobgate". How I can say that I love this? And I remer, when back in Poland, in the 50-ties, breastfeeding of little child was normal in public places. I would embrace a kiss every woman who will be doing this today. Especially in America, the Bastion Of Liberty, Supporter of Fre Speech, Journalistic Freedoms (in Russia), etc.

zubi - 06/09/13 11:07 AM

Would also have loved to have taught myself to feel less guilty about working in a full time job and valued my opinions more.

Priscilla - 05/30/13 02:45 PM

My longer self, don't let

*others shorten your name
*male colleagues "push " you to places you don't want to be or go
* worry about your appearance; ideas; or self
You are beautiful as you are

Do

*laugh out loud
*keep a personal reflective journal
*be comfortable alone
* listen to the "Florida Suite" with someone you love
*speak
*listen
* risk everything at least once on or with someone or something or some idea you love
passionately
* have one great black dress

remember, you are very beautiful the way you are

Sandra - 05/13/13 07:33 AM

I wish I had been fully committed to speaking from my values. I would at times default to agreement based on a desire for camaraderie. Now at 65 I understand how values based contributions are always needed regardless of the issue being discussed. I wish I had also been committed to speaking in away others could hear. Speaking with compassion is primary, passion that includes compassion for those concerned opens the doors of the heart and creativity of the spirit. I no longer believe in enemies or hero's. Going forward to collaborate and communicate with care treating others as my colleagues will move the wave of transformation forward. Becoming an apostle of a leader or in vitrifying an enemy reinforces divisions and difference. Also the pursuit of the arts, a time of reflection during every day and a day of rest ever week has had profound affect on my ability to maintain my dignity and respect that of others.

Doris - 03/27/13 09:50 AM

I wish I had viewed "working" as a career instead of just a way to make some extra money for the family. I didn't give much thought to the future. I stopped working as a secretary/clerical/receptionist at age 78 and here I am without a pension, 401 or anything else other than Medicare. In the early years of the 50's you didn't hear much about benefits except for hospitalization benefits. Hospitalization insurance was uncomplicated - I was in the hospital for two weeks (average stay) and paid $.50 for the use of the telephone. The total bill was $350. If, however, you were not married when you became pregnant then you were not eligible for maternity benefits. My advice would be to save and invest for your future. My generation could never have imagined the financial explosion over our lifetime.

Sai - 03/20/13 12:05 AM

A best suggestion to grow fast in career. Thanks

ANGELA - 03/08/13 11:14 AM

At Citi Jamaica we are celebrating International Women's Day by hosting a "Conversation" with one of Jamaica's most prominent women. Elaine Wint is a radio personality, inspirational speaker and business performance trainer. The topic is The Power in Contributing and will engage all genders:
• Negotiating Personal Space
• Creating Work/Life Balance
• Unwrapping the Gift of Relatedness

We are looking forward to a successful event this afternoon.

Posted by:
President
Jamaica Women's Counci;

Suni Harford Reflects on Changes for Women During her Career

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