Mom, they called me a WITCH!

Hello everyone! I'm new to this community and I really like the theme you have, that's why I want to write about an event I had about 2 weeks ago.

I was invited to participate in an event for women called “entrelazadas”, at first I didn't really know what it was about and if it was going to be interesting to participate, but since I had nothing to do I decided to go.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

The truth was the best decision I made, sometimes it happens that, because of laziness, lack of interest or curiosity, we miss great opportunities in life, this is one of the many examples that I can show you.

From the moment I arrived at the event, I knew it was going to be a motivating experience, everything was decorated very beautifully with an elegant but traditional style of my country. By the way, I am from Bolivia, in the city of La Paz.

The whole event was very well organized and I think that beyond having everything under control, the main objective was for the participants to connect with the speakers and feel “connected”.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

Although the talks were the typical ones that you can see in a normal event, I think the connection that was achieved with each one of them was unique. But let's talk about the beginning of the event, there was a brief introduction, where it was just a very simple video, but it had elements that touched your heart.

I could not explain in detail the whole video, since it would not be the same, but I can assure you that I felt how I connected with my companions, with my roots and with myself, just watching and listening to ambient music.

After that, the talks started, where influential women from my city told their stories, but not about their success, but the tragic part of that story. It was quite similar to TED talks, for those who don't know, they are short talks that engage and motivate you.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

Most of the stories were sad because they all started by telling how it was complicated to be a female entrepreneur in a world led by men, they had to sacrifice several things to get a better position. It was very moving to hear each one of them, even some of them were sad and crying.

During the whole event, it created an atmosphere full of support, learning, understanding, sisterhood, where I think each one of us felt pretty good. Maybe I can't transmit you my experience 100% but I want you to try to imagine that moment where you feel at ease, powerful, understood, loved and with positive vibes.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

Having clarified the context a bit, and going on to explain the name of the title, there was a speaker who caught the attention of most of the participants because she taught us about the true history of women through the years.

She commented that during the history of the world, everything that women had done was always hidden, in any case because of the existing machismo. But beyond generating a debate among all of us, she invited us to read, learn and look for information about everything she was telling us.

She told us that we should question everything we learn, we have to read and inform ourselves because the story is badly told.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

Maybe you know her, her name is Teresa Egaña and she is from Venezuela, she travels giving talks of this kind to promote women's leadership. I liked her talk very much, from the way she told it to the presentation she used, full of very important phrases and data.

She called herself a “heretic”, because she did not believe in what was already established, but she was like the seeker of the truth. She called my attention because she was right, one must seek one's own truth, one must inform oneself in order to contribute with one's own opinion.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

This event was full of learning and unique experiences that turned my life around, even though they all had a bad start, there was a whole path behind them that thanks to that they were able to go through and become great women.

In summary, I would like to list some interesting phrases that I think will be useful to all of you, and will help you to rethink your life.

• “Never underestimate the power of your voice and your story. Each of you has infinite potential” (Soliz Madelen, 2024).
• “Act from the soul” (Andrea Ulloa, 2024).
• “I am a heretic” (Teresa Egaña, 2024).

These 3 phrases stuck in my mind, especially the last one because the speaker told us that before those people who knew new and not understood things were called that way and then burned, the so-called witches. Then she said that all of us at the event were witches and heretics because we were talking about so many topics that were previously forbidden to women.

Photo taken during the event, by the author.

Today I want you to keep two things in mind, if you feel lazy or think that going to an event will not be profitable for you, don't believe your mind and go. You are going to see that in that event, talk or activity you are going to have a good time. Maybe you will learn something, maybe you will meet someone or maybe some words you hear will help you and motivate you to move forward.

That's what happened to me, it gave me a lot of strength and motivation to move forward and continue with my projects. Sometimes you just need that push to do things that maybe out of fear you don't do them.

And secondly, if they call you a witch feel proud because it means that you have great knowledge and they fear you for it, trust in your knowledge and skills, you are a great woman. Full of love, understanding, wisdom, gratitude, hope and much more.

Like the song that was sung at this event: what woman are you? you are a woman of the universe!

Photo taken during the event, by the author.