Documenting is important

 Today, I am posting about an incredible group who align with my ideals about the importance of women and women's stories. Last week, I spoke a little about the Awesome Ladies Project and my trip to East Lansing, Michigan. The trip was to Awesome Ladies Live and was part of an annual event run by Kristin or @rukristin who started and is owner of The Awesome Ladies Project. 

The reason I resonate with Kristen is because of her feelings about intersectional relationship and the importance of women's stories and women documenting them. I have always felt that women for years and years have passed down their wisdom and listened and shared with one another; often through isolation from men, quilting bees, garden groups, sewing guilds, salons, homemakers clubs and church ("the church ladies"). Many of these everyday trials were not written down or shared except verbally and this has always been frustrating for me as a reader, historian, genealogist and documenter. 

Over the years, I have been the girl looking for stories of the women of the past. What were their lives really like? Why are they swept under the rug? How hard was it for my great great great grandmother to drag her two young daughters half way across the world to North Idaho where people only spoke English? I have read the few diaries available by women; mostly women who are "important" in history whose thoughts and ideas do not align with mine today. Through those writings, I have been able to develop who I am today and have an understanding of the past and move forward into the future.

Kristin's ideas behind documenting your everyday life and making art is important for everyone, especially today. She is asking us to document our everyday lives. She has a Monday documenting practice called Currently where you can can document the things you are doing and feeling right now. On Thursdays, she asks you to document a selfie and share three right now things. I love to read through my Instagram and the Awesome Ladies Project website and see what people are doing and watching. It has helped me connect with people all over the world. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash