Weekly Mantra - Emma Watson

image source Getty Images

I remember getting into a debate with a guy I was dating over the word "feminist."

He started off the conversation with, "You aren't some bra burning feminist are you?" I remained calm, but responded that yes, actually I am (but minus the bra burning because bras are expensive, and I need them).

This past weekend, Emma Watson spoke at the United Nations as she is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Her speech was about feminism, and while it did focus on women's equality, the speech also focused on opening up the stage for men and boys.

The HeForShe campaign is a call for men to be vulnerable, and to be free of gender stereotypes. It is a platform for men to stand up for feminism, because they also believe in the rights of women.

I thought her speech was brilliant, and wanted to share it with you. This week's mantra comes from her, and if you haven't already, watch the full video here. Enjoy!

"My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’t love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn't assume that I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influences are the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it but they are the inadvertent feminists needed in the world today. We need more of those. If you still hate the word, it is not the word that is important. It is the idea and the ambition behind it because not all women have received the same rights I have. In fact, statistically, very few have." - Emma Watson

New Weekly Mantra - The Placeholder Life

Do you ever feel like you're waiting to start your life?

I read a quote from writer and lifestyle host Daphne Oz about what it means to create a "real life." Daphne is the author of Relish - a book about home, style and food and her book focuses on living a life that includes balance, beauty and effort. (Note: I own this book, and really like it).

I found the quote interesting because in a way, I've also talked with my friends about what we all desire for the future, without making any tangible changes to get there.

Sometimes it's hard to admit that you may not just end up in the place you want, if you don't start making new habits today.

Whether it's putting up a new shelf, trying a new recipe or taking a new class, there is no better time than today to start living out the kind of life you imagine tomorrow will someday hold.

Below is the quote from Daphne as taken from The Chalkboard Mag. Enjoy! x

"The idea for this book came out of all the conversations I’d had with my friends in which we had talked about what we hoped our “real lives” would look like down the road in 20 or 30 years. In one way or another, we realized that we were all living “placeholder lives” in the meantime, waiting for the moment when we would suddenly have it all figured out. It dawned on me that living in the now, making the most of this moment, is where real life begins. If we don’t lay the solid groundwork today for a dream life that has all the elements we crave – delicious, healthy, indulgent food; a beautiful home that makes us comfortable; an easy wardrobe and beauty routine that lets us feel our best and show that to the world; a purposeful life and rewarding career; strong, supportive, loving relationships with family, friends & partners – we’re never going to wind up there."