I just got back from a trip of a lifetime with my family. We explored Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. We stood at the base of the Great Pyramid. We wandered the cliffside streets of Santorini. We climbed the steps of the Parthenon. We walked through ancient Turkish bazaars filled with spices, leather, and light.
We came home full—and changed.
Travel always opens me. It stretches my understanding and sharpens my gratitude.
But this time, something deeper got stirred.
In Turkey, I felt it.
My femaleness.
Not because of how I was treated—I was met with kindness. But there, in the streets and sacred spaces, I felt the difference.
Women covered their heads. Many were fully cloaked in burkas, with only a narrow slit for their eyes. Our guide proudly spoke of how far the country had come in terms of women’s rights. But when we visited a mosque, he explained that women aren’t expected to attend prayers—and when they do, they’re quietly ushered into a small, segregated space.
And here’s the truth:
I felt uncomfortable.
Not because anyone said something to me—
But because something inside me began to tighten.
As a woman who’s outspoken, strong, and unapologetically visible…
I found myself wondering: If I lived here, what would have to change?
Would I still speak up the same way?
Would I walk as confidently?
Would my presence feel safe—or threatening?
Would I be as valued?
That question didn’t come from fear. It came from awareness.
And it stirred something deep and unsettling in me.
Because even in places where we’re “free,” how often do we do the same thing?
How often do we cover up—not with fabric, but with performance?
We hide our hunger.
We tone down our truth.
We smooth our edges.
We’re taught that being female means being likable, low-maintenance, and never too much.
But BOLD women break those rules.
We tell the truth.
We take up space.
We choose who we want to be—and we live it out loud.
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BOLD Woman Reflection
Take 15–20 minutes and answer these questions. Write them down. Be honest:
- Where in your life are you still covering up part of yourself?
- What are you craving—but afraid to name out loud?
- What’s the cost of staying small? And what becomes possible if you don’t?
