Freedom | Clanmother

I was told to wipe the smile off my face, if I was going to be taken seriously. The article was clear, to the point, complete with a set of instructions on how to tilt the chin, make eye contact and minimize the shrillness of my voice. Beware of overusing the smile. Leaders employ this technique with careful precision to diminish the likelihood of being taken as the junior assistant. Too much smiling is hazardous for those climbing the social or corporate ladder. If I follow “leadership protocol” in my body language as prescribed by experts, I am certain to pass the networking gauntlet with flying colours. Continue reading →

Cinco de Mayo. It’s a date that speaks about a fight for freedom. Today, commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Peubla in 1862. When I read the story again last night, the powerful message that came through loud and clear: the need for freedom inspires courage and ingenuity to stand up to the powerful aggressor knowing, without a doubt, you are the weaker challenger. Some people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. That is celebrated on September 16^th , arguably the most important Mexican patriotic holiday. However, May 5^th was a tipping point, a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government which strengthened the resistance movement to continue the fight.

The question that remains – would we have been as brave?

The Coast of Mexico