If you had known so many years ago what the world would be like now, what would you have done differently?
Would you still be a feminist? Would you yell strong, march in the streets, protest the government? Would you weep, cry, yell, scream, rage? What would you do differently? Would you change anything at all?
***
To the me of yesterday - scared, big-hearted, wanting to be everyone's protector and savior - I will tell you this:
Don't be afraid to take chances on yourself and others. The risks are worth it, even if you get hurt down the road.
Become a strong, hard-working feminist and fight sooner than you do. The world is not perfect. The government will make cuts, devalue your right to be called a person. You will be underpaid. Your feminisms will inform you of the enormity of these cutbacks.
You will realize your inequality. You will cry for your sisters, and for yourself, who are victimized and assaulted.
Don't give up.
Do take time for yourself. Take more long baths, eat lots of chocolate, don't worry so much about impressing other people.
Don't burn out or become jaded by the time you're 25. It won't do anyone any good.
Do believe it's worth fighting for.
Believe in progress and equality and your right as a woman. Even when the Canadian government cuts women's funding and disallows any spending for the purpose of advocacy or equality-work. Even when the government disallows you to speak up against them, to challenge them - keep challenging and keep fighting.
Don't give up.
Revel in your sisters around you, take strength in them and their power.
Celebrate you as a woman.
Don't worry so much about your image. Or how you look, or how much you weigh.
Don't feel guilty for worrying about body image and appearances so much. You are not a "bad feminist."
Fight the good fight and be proud of what you do! Don't get discouraged by all these cutbacks, by the job market, or the workload, or the dismissiveness of security and safety for women.
It IS worth fighting for.
Keep all this in mind, and you'll be okay. Learn from your mistakes but most important:
Don't Give Up.
About the Author
Leisha Sagan is a freelance writer/graduate student/compulsive traveler/eternally single woman. A Vagina Warrior, she continues trying to do it all by doing steady freelance work and working on women's movement events such as The Vagina Monologues. She gets to see the ocean every day of her life.
My main focus in art is color, design and composition. I have a true passion for color as the art subject itself - how colors fit together, how they communicate with each other within the design, how certain colors combined with one another evoke a certain feeling - this is paramount in my work. I am a social worker, artist and poet living in Austin, TX. Read More...
Leisha Sagan is a freelance writer/graduate student/compulsive traveler/eternally single woman. A Vagina Warrior, she continues trying to do it all by doing steady freelance work and working on women's movement events such as The Vagina Monologues. She gets to see the ocean every day of her life. 
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