WEEO

my good friend ju-ju-bee has this big dream to start a women's group called weeo: women empowering each other. she has an anthem picked out and everything. she wants to start it because the sad truth is, not enough women love other women.

not enough of us remember that a win for one woman is a win for all women. we let our insecurities rule and our emotions get the best of us. we are mean girls instead of cheerleaders. jealous instead of supportive. foes instead of friends. we are taught to think that anything one woman has or gets only takes away from what we have a shot at. we are bombarded with reminders that this is a competition - for men, for jobs, and for other people's mental space ("do they think i'm the prettiest one? the funniest one? i can't believe they think she's smarter than me..."). but that is not the way it has to be. and it's not the way i want to be.

it's high time we put away our sass, our negativity and our fear.
we are on the same team and it's about time we all start acting like it.

if she's better at you than something, learn from her.
if she's nicer than you, follow her lead.
if she's got a better job than you, ask her for advice.
if she's funnier than you, stop being mad and just join in on the fun.
if she's prettier than you, i don't know... get up earlier and do your damn hair.
if her body is better than yours, she's annoying ;) just kidding! go with her to the gym.

the point is: there is always going to be someone who's better than you at something.
but you're the only one who can be the best you. you are special. and just because another woman
is, too, doesn't mean you're not anymore. and if there's a woman in your life who is bringing you down, you need to move on. because, i guarantee that in your lifetime, you are going to run into women who just don't get it. you are going to be face to face with a woman hater. it might be your sister, your friend or someone you barely even know. but whoever she is, she has no place in your life.

if there's a woman hater in your life, ditch her. go find a group of ladies who will pick you up, tell you're great and take you out for mojitos. those ladies are out there. and they're awesome. and if you are the woman hater, girlfriend, i just have to tell you that your life does not have to be this way. you need to just get over it. we've all been a woman hater before. for small things, for big things, sometimes for split seconds and sometimes for too long. it has just got to stop.

there are women out there who can fill our lives with joy. and they want to love us, for no other reason than the fact that we're women and we're in this together. so let them love you. ok?

in honor of weeo, here are a few hilarious excerpts from mindy kaling's new book is everyone hanging out without me: