Hi champions,
I’ve got a riddle for you:
A father and son are in a horrible car crash that kills the dad. The son is rushed to the hospital but just as he’s about to go under the knife, the surgeon says, “I can’t operate—that boy is my son!”
How is this possible?
When I first heard this riddle, I couldn’t guess the correct answer. Was the surgeon the child’s step dad? Apparently no. Did he have two gay fathers? Also, no.
And then I was told the answer …
…….
(creating some space for dramatic effect)
………..
“The surgeon is the boy’s mother”.
His mum. I know, right? So obvious and yet I’d been genuinely stumped. I never even thought that his mum could be a surgeon. She didn’t even enter the picture!
Now, I know that riddles are designed to get your brain thinking in a pattern that steers you away from the answer, but this riddle really got to me.
I heard it while doing the Inca Trek in Peru last year, and as I was sitting there, surrounded by a group of empowered and powerful women, it seemed to speak volumes about gender stereotypes.
I mean, it was crazy to be in that setting and not think that a woman could be the surgeon in question! To me, that was the true riddle of the night!
You know, as a mining engineer I’ve seen women rise to the top of a male-dominated industry, and as a motivational speaker, I have the fortune to meet and share stages with some of the most influential people in the world, and yes, more often than not, they are women!
I’m not sure how we can change gender stereotypes for good but I do believe that by celebrating women and their success, and making sure younger girls are part of that celebration, we’re making a pretty good start.
So, on that note, here’s a challenge for you:
How can you celebrate another woman in your life TODAY? Recommend her for a promotion, give her a shout out on social media for being a deadset legend, pick up the phone or send an email and tell her that she’s doing a bloody good job.
“When we celebrate women’s achievements, we create space for everyone to be part of that success” – Tweet it!
What’s up next for me?
In the next few weeks, I’ll be able to let you in on a really exciting campaign that I’ve been involved with. It’s been a collaboration with some incredibly talented women, working on this campaign has made me feel like the ultimate princess … that’s all I’ll say for now!
Also, in a few days, I’ll be taking on the Kokoda Track to raise money for Interplast. I’ll probably be offline for the week or so that we’re over there, but I’ll do my best to share the journey on Instagram when I can!
I’ll look forward to filling you all in on our trip when I’m back in a couple of weeks.
Until then, keep kicking goals!
Turia xx
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