MAD MANIFESTO

Not so much insane, but mad in the sense of a little bit eccentric and angry mad about the suffering, injustice and inequality in the world. That’s why we are “mad women” and why the acronym Making A Difference is the perfect call to action.

Mature women have much to contribute to the world. With kids grown up, we yearn for a new lease on life.We look beyond our homes and families to unknown frontiers, with a renewed sense of adventure.Having raised children, overcome challenges and survived heartbreak, we are wounded love warriors, equipped with natural nurturing abilities and empathy and compassion.

We have an abundance of career and life experience, talents and skills, intelligence and wisdom to offer the world. We have a sense of urgency and desire not to waste our gifts; a burning desire to connect and give.

But ironically just when we have the most to offer with undivided time and focus, devotion and passion, we are often considered unemployable and consigned to the scrapheap of invisible retirement.

If we once had exhaustive roles as wives, mothers and workers we can now, past 50, find ourselves unwanted, useless and redundant.

So this is why we must employ ourselves; find our own causes to champion in a world of hardship and suffering crying out for help. We must hire ourselves to take on this real work that gives meaning and purpose and deep fulfilment.

We must not depend on the establishment to recognise our value. We must recognise our value for ourselves and seize the challenge.

We are now old enough and wise enough to be our own parent and employer; to rely on our own inner guidance, trust our own discerning judgement, make our own decisions.

When we discover and affirm our worth and live our core values, we will realise we are capable of generating income, solving problems and adding value to the world.

Empowered mature women can inform, influence and inspire through their words, feelings and actions and enrich, heal and transform lives.

BUT we must not attempt it alone because disconnection and isolation is a recipe for failure. We must join forces with other dynamic women and work together as a united, trusted sisterhood.

We must overcome rivalry, competitiveness and jealousy to work together in solidarity and mutual support, co-operation and collaboration because heartfelt co-operation is the essence and strength of women.

Together we can Make A Difference for Humanity.