As I looked over my list of historical Moxie Women one stood out that I can relate my childhood to as well as admire.
Amelia Earhart discovered, owned and lived her Moxie. She pursued her passions doing what she wanted and knew she could do, without fear or worry of what society at the time considered appropriate for women. She had her sights set on proving a woman can do what men can do. Her intentions were evidenced by her scrapbook of newspaper articles about other women who were successful in male-dominated fields. Earhart’s Moxie grew with her convictions to overcome any obstacles, financial or others’ opinions or expectations.
She defied the status quo. When she was young, Amelia loved to play basketball, learning auto repair and she even attended college for a brief time. If you consider the early 1900’s, these are things women just didn’t do or should want to do, yet she wasn’t afraid to set out and surprise the world.
Amelia is most known for attempting to fly around the world but disappearing before she could accomplish her mission. In December 1920, Amelia had her very first plane ride and one month later, took her first flying lesson. Within 12 months of her first ride, she earned her pilot’s license! No one could keep this Moxie woman grounded!
She was the first woman to fly solo over 14,000 feet; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and the first woman to fly solo, nonstop across the United States and from Hawaii to the U.S mainland, just to name a few of her accomplishments.
I take personal comfort in her story. As I grew up, I also had some unusual interests that weren’t in alignment with what my family and society considered normal for a girl. Instead of wanting to help in the kitchen, or learn to sew, I wanted to be outside building forts, playing kickball or watching and helping my father work on cars. At the time, I didn’t know any better, but as I grew up, I began to recognize and even be embarrassed for being different than my friends and what was considered “normal”. I learned well to hold back from doing many things I was good at out of fear of being singled out and possibly laughed at. It has taken most of my life to overcome the self-built obstacles that I thought would protect me rather than understanding and Owning my uniqueness. We each are created unique, and we should not hide it, ever.
Amelia was an amazing woman, who broke through so many barriers of the day and proved what a woman is capable of. She greatly impacted what can be expected of women – especially women who have Moxie!
Let’s learn from her example – let’s follow and act on our unique passions and capabilities without fear – let’s surprise the world.
“For ambitious, passionate women who don’t fit the mold, the sky’s the limit!”
Jacqui Rossi said of Amelia Earhart
As a Moxie Sister, I know I don’t fit the mold, how about you?