Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

Dear Women
Dear You: This letter is to you, the women on this planet. To women who are brave to smile, to dream, and to tear. To you, the women that inspire, are not afraid to work hard and be the best woman that you can become. To all you women that are brave enough to change to who you want to become. All of you that are not afraid to sweat, get dirty, and love fashion and beauty. To those women that feel empty but still have the courage to laugh, smile, and shine. Dear women in my life, the strangers, and newly acquainted, thank you for being you.
By Mary Crawley5 years ago in Viva
The "Little Women"
A movie recommendation I would give to people who enjoy timeless stories like Pride and Prejudice would be Little Women. I would recommend the 2019 version of Little Women, not because of the glorious actors that breathed life into a host of different characters, but the intense emphasis placed on women's voices. Similar to Pride and Prejudice, Little Women gives a refreshing and dousing wind to the hidden thoughts, cries, and wants of women that echo the internal anguish of modern women today. Further, within this film, it is not just women bound by the squandering fists of 19th-century societal demands of decency and righteous expectations.
By T & J W.5 years ago in Viva
To The Woman With The Heart of a Dragon. Third Place in Sister Circle Challenge. Top Story - March 2021.
You were born in 1964. The year of the dragon. You’ve always admired dragons. Dragons, lions, eagles. Creatures larger than life, that represent strength and courage. I think it’s because you’ve always seen yourself in them. I do too.
By Samantha Kaszas5 years ago in Viva
Remarkable
To my Grannie, I’ve been thinking about you a lot these days. My world is so different than yours was, but there are similarities that shine through. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without you and the stories of your strength keep me going when times feel dark.
By Christina Blanchette5 years ago in Viva
Not A woman, but US women.
I feel the strongest woman is all of us women, because the amount of stuff we go through all the time makes us mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally etc. much stronger (or weaker), that it's hard to pick one woman, when all of us women are so beautifully powerful.
By CosmicAli5 years ago in Viva
Free the Pill
I received a helpful text on my phone one day. “Text REPLY to refill your prescription of [norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets].” Not sparing a second thought to the ease and convenience of my modern life, I texted back and expected to be able to pick up my prescription of birth control later in the day.
By Rachael Dunn5 years ago in Viva
I'm not your Superwoman
Dear Meghan, Who is the strongest woman you know? I’m sure your mother is one. Probably even the Queen. Personally, I’ve known and read about many strong women-historically, fictitiously, familial and spiritually. And there are many comic book heroines who are strong. One of the strongest is Superwoman. In Alicia Keyes song, Superwoman released in 2008, the heroine is portrayed as an everyday average woman:
By Saja Bo Storm5 years ago in Viva
Decid(h)er
In a world of NFTs, fake news, and quarantine mind melt, it is difficult to know what is real. As I reflect back on the few strange in-door months of 2021, I wish I could have done something real to honor the women in my life during International Women's Month. I particularly fell short celebrating the incredible Black women that I know. Some of these women I have worked for, some of them have been colleagues, others lovers and still more friends. All of them have been my teachers and all of them lift my experience on this planet.
By Ro Roquemore5 years ago in Viva
My Champion
Dear Strong Woman, You amaze me. I need to start right there because I know you haven't heard it nearly enough. All those times you felt like no one saw you, I hope you know I saw you clearly. All the times you spoke and thought that no one heard you, I assure you I did. Your words still resonate in my mind each time I face tough times, in fact. All those times you took care of everyone else without a single expectation or a single thank you... I bet you felt so unappreciated. I'm here to say that I not only appreciate you, but I love you. It's your love that built my spirit. It's your kindness and humility that taught me what matters most. It's your devotion to your family that made me who I am today.
By Kathryn Keller-Casper5 years ago in Viva
I see you...
Dearest you, I may not know you personally, but I do see you, day in and day out making small miracles everyday. This letter is to the women who are often overlooked and unacknowledged. I want to let you know that you are vital to making the world go ‘round, there isn’t an area of life that doesn’t have your touch.
By Sierra Fisher5 years ago in Viva
To Mai, The Mother of 1000 Orphans
Namaste Mai (Hello Mom), I know you will not recognize me by name, and I also know that you won't even bother to know who I am. Because when the whole world calls you Mai, this situation will surely be not new to you.
By Kavi Kamat5 years ago in Viva
The Scent of a Mother
Mama Yangu Shujaa Wangu. These four words forever stain my arm with the memory of all that my mother has done for me, even in the moments when I felt like she wasn't doing anything but neglecting and rejecting me.
By Cat Brooks5 years ago in Viva