The Dragon’s Legacy

In the Year of the Dragon 2024, as we celebrate International Women's Day, I find myself reflecting on the women who have inspired me. Among them, one stands out - a woman of strength, love, and determination, much like the dragon that symbolizes this year. She is my grandmother.

My grandmother was not a famous poet like Maya Angelou, nor a Nobel laureate like Malala Yousafzai. She was a simple woman with an extraordinary spirit. Born in a time when women were expected to remain in the shadows, she chose to step into the light. Her life was not easy, but she faced every challenge with courage and grace, teaching me that "a woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water," as Eleanor Roosevelt once said.

She was a dreamer, always reminding me that "every great dream begins with a dreamer." She believed in the power of dreams and the strength within each of us to change the world. Her faith in me ignited my own belief in myself, pushing me to reach for the stars.

Her wisdom was profound, yet simple. She taught me that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. This lesson has guided me in my interactions with others, reminding me of the importance of kindness and empathy.

My grandmother was the dragon beside me, her strength and love guiding me through life. Her spirit was enigmatic, filled with a magic that only a dragon could possess. She was my beacon, her mild eyes commanding the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame, much like the mighty woman with a torch in Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus."

As I journey through life, I often find myself tracing the footsteps of my grandmother. Her spirit, like the dragon of lore, is a constant presence in my life, guiding me, inspiring me, challenging me.

My grandmother was a woman of faith. She believed in the power of prayer, in the strength of the human spirit, and in the potential of each new day. "Every sunrise," she would say, "is a promise of a new beginning." Her faith was infectious, and it instilled in me a sense of hope and optimism that has carried me through the darkest of times.

She was a woman of passion. She loved deeply and lived fully, embracing every moment with an intensity that was awe-inspiring. "Passion," she would say, "is the spark that ignites the soul." Her passion for life was a beacon that lit my path, showing me the way to live with purpose and joy.

My grandmother was a woman of grace. She moved through the world with a quiet dignity that commanded respect. She faced adversity with courage and met success with humility. "Grace," she would say, "is the quiet strength that comes from within." Her grace was a lesson in resilience, teaching me to stand tall in the face of adversity.

As I reflect on her life, I realize that my grandmother was not just a woman, but a force of nature. She was the wind that filled my sails, the sun that warmed my face, the rain that nourished my growth. She was the dragon beside me, her spirit as powerful and enduring as the mythical creature itself.

In the grand tapestry of life, each thread tells a story. Each thread is a part of the whole, contributing to the intricate design. My grandmother's thread is a vibrant strand of gold, a testament to her strength, her love, her spirit. It weaves through my life, shaping my story, guiding my path. And as I add my own thread to the tapestry, I carry her with me. For her story is my story, her legacy is my legacy. And together, we weave a tapestry of strength, love, and determination - a tapestry fit for a dragon.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, I honor my grandmother - the dragon beside me. Her legacy lives on in me, and I strive to carry her strength, love, and determination forward. For most of history, Anonymous was a woman. But today, I give my anonymous heroine a name - my grandmother, the dragon beside me.