This International Women’s Day, I built a path.
A real path, made of bricks, to help my kids get to the trampoline without trudging through the mud.
Let’s face it, it’s not perfect. No one is looking at this path and wondering whether I take commissions.
I only had some old bricks and offcuts to work with. I didn’t follow a proper pattern, just placed bricks in at random. Some pieces slotted in perfectly, but others left gaps. I even had to use a rock in one spot where nothing quite fit.
But I got the job done, and it serves a purpose.
As I stood back, admiring my handiwork and bragging to my kids about my impressive DIY skills, I got all deep and philosophical.
I realised this is actually a metaphor for the work of women everywhere.
It’s also a metaphor for the work I do as a copywriter.
Stay with me…
Women build paths every day
Not just with bricks, obviously, but by making things easier for the people around them. Women are natural path-builders, often working with whatever resources they have, filling in the gaps, and making sure others can move forward more easily.
At work
Women mentor, champion, and advocate for others, creating opportunities and opening doors that might have otherwise remained shut.
At home
Mothers, daughters, sisters, and caregivers build foundations for their families, making choices that shape the futures of those they love.
In society
Women fight for equality, challenge the status quo, and push for progress—even when they know they might not be the ones who get to benefit fully from the paths they’re laying.
And let’s be real: It’s not always perfect. We don’t always have the right resources, and sometimes the best we can do is patch things together. Progress can be messy, slow, and uneven. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile.
Some paths are easy to lay. Others take years of effort, countless hands, and an unwavering commitment to change.
But the goal is always the same: to make the journey easier for those who follow.
Copywriting: Building paths with words
As a copywriter, I realised I’m also pretty adept at building paths. Good copywriting guides people where they need to go, they create pathways for understanding, connection and action.
When you write content that it clear, it helps people find their way to the information they need. It can cut through the noise and jargon to help guide them to solutions.
Some copy is carefully planned and polished, every word fitting together seamlessly.
Other times, it’s about working with what you have, filling in the gaps, and refining as you go.
But the purpose remains the same: to lead people forward.
Build paths, not walls
It’s important to lay the path for others not build the wall to stop others from joining us. Most women are great at that.
This International Women’s Day, I want to acknowledge and thank those women. The ones who have built the paths I’ve walked on. The ones who paved the way in workplaces, communities, and homes, often without recognition, often with limited tools, but always with purpose.
I also celebrate the women who are still building their careers, businesses, communities, families.
Or even just a simple path to a trampoline.
Imperfect, but purposeful.
Happy International Women’s Day.