Sometimes Battles are Fought (and Won!) Just by BEING…

This past week’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the position of U.S. Supreme Court justice has given me chills.  It is so exciting to think of a LATINA in such a position.

And while I know that so many people have had a part in making this opportunity possible for a Latina – there have been layers upon layers of work on social justice issues that have prepared history for this moment – I also know that part of this victory is the fact that Judge Sotomayor simply did her job (and a darn good one at that!), and allowed herself to simply BE the best she could.

Isn’t it a blessing that so many have fought and won battles before so that some of us can now simply BE what we were meant to be and that that is enough?

Sometimes battles aren’t about DOING anything other than what you would normally do, and being just simply who you are.  By being the best mother, daughter, sister, friend, lover, worker, student you can be, you win the biggest battle of all – the battle to BE yourself.

So this week while we rally around this amazing woman who will be a marker for many of us of what it is now POSSIBLE for a Latina to achieve, we can revel in the comfort that – while we still have a long way to go – we can celebrate simply BEING who we are and all the various kinds of Latina that is for each of us.  And know that sometimes, we can win the battles just by relaxing into who we are.

Sonia, we as your Latina sisters, are so proud of you and support and honor this amazing moment for you.  And we also hold this moment close as a victory for each one of us.

By simply BEING the best judge, jurist, lawyer and wise woman you can be, you have opened up the doors for each of us and we celebrate with you as you get ready to step into this historic position.

So, my Latina friends, know that La Guerrillera is safe within each of you to use her when you need to, and also allow yourself to just BE and win the battle of being the true YOU!