There is a quiet strength in the way women move through the world: graceful, enduring, and luminous. Like jasmine flowers blooming in the night, seashells carrying the whispers of the sea, and lanterns casting their glow in the dark, women embody resilience in ways both seen and unseen.
Jasmines do not ask for recognition. It blooms, and its fragrance spreads far and wide, regardless of who notices. Women, too, persevere, even when the world fails to recognize their strength. They face adversity with unwavering resolve, demonstrating that power can be soft yet unbreakable.
I dreamt of fragrant flowers last night,
The kind we adorn deities with.
-Jasmines in Her Hair / Kalpesh Desai
Many women live by this truth - giving without expectation, supporting without recognition, and leaving an imprint on the hearts of those around them, much like the lingering scent of jasmine that remains even after the flower is gone.
Seashells, shaped by the tides, mirror the journeys of women. No two shells are alike. Each has distinct ridges, curves, and imperfections carved by the waves that have carried them across the sea. Women, too, are shaped by the experiences they navigate - the joys, the struggles, the moments of loss and triumph.
A seashell is more than a fragment of the ocean’s story; it carries the whispers of the sea within it. If you listen carefully, you can hear the echoes of its journey, much like how women carry the wisdom of those who came before. They are guided by the voices of their mothers, grandmothers, and ancestors, even in the face of uncertainty.
On days like these,
I crave you.
And though
we are separated by seas,
our hearts are enjoined like glue.
-Distance / Kalpesh Desai
Women have crossed seas of change, united by sisterhood, love, and determination. They listen to the whispers of the waves, the echoes of ancestors, and the dreams that have yet to come, creating harmony in a world that often seeks to silence them.
Finally, there are lanterns, which represent guidance, warmth, and hope. A lantern does not eliminate darkness, but it does provide light, albeit small, to guide the way. Women, too, are like lanterns, illuminating their own paths and those who follow. They are the quiet forces that lead with love, nurture with kindness, and remain steady even when the night is long.
A mother’s whispered words of encouragement, a mentor’s steady hand, and a friend’s quiet support are the lanterns that help others find their way. Women shine in ways that may seem ordinary but are, in truth, extraordinary.
Do you see how
my love,
lights up the path,
to show you the way,
to me?
-Midnight Musings / Kalpesh Desai
Women lead with knowledge and compassion, showing others the way forward with a strength that flickers but never fades. They are the beacons that call us home, the soft glow reminds us that we are never alone, even when things are uncertain.
This Women's Month, let us honor the women who, like jasmine flowers, seashells, and lanterns, remind us of the beauty in resilience, the strength in softness, and the light that guides us forward.
You are strong within
if you don't know it yet.
You are not alone, lest you forget.
-Where Do You Go? / Kalpesh Desai
Let these words remind the women who inspire, nurture, and lead: you are seen as cherished, and your light will never fade.
By Justina Torres