Today is International Women’s Day 2026. A purple ribbon day – a colour that signifies justice and dignity. This special day is being marked and celebrated in many ways including writing about a woman or women who have inspired you the most throughout life. And this is how I want to celebrate the day. I don’t suppose for a moment that the day is only for women to celebrate women, as a man I want to give some thought to a woman who has been a massive inspiration not only on my life but has continually inspired me throughout life. But before I do write about this woman I also want to write about a couple of other women who have inspired me and made a real difference…in very different ways.

First of all I have to talk about one of the most important women in my life. Our paths crossed then merged in a beautiful and life changing way in 2011. It was a momentous year for both of us and the year marked the beginning of a journey of a lifetime. From the moment I read some blog posts something inside me came alive, something I had never experienced before and I wanted, needed to know more about the author of these personal posts. I will write more about this beautiful, loving, inspiring woman who is now my wife in another post, (and I won’t need to wait for another International Women’s Day to do so). But since 2011 the woman I love more than anything, not only loves me in return but continues to be my motivator, my guide, my educator, my joy, my fun and laughter, my fellow bookworm, and my inspiration. My beautiful wife continues to amaze me in all she does not only for me, but also for so many other people – for her family, her friends, and her co-workers, and even people she doesn’t know and will probably never meet. On this International Women’s Day a thank you to her does not seem enough, but I do, I thank her for everything. And if she reads this post, this is for her. ‘I love you.’

In part 2 I will write about a couple of inspirational women from my working life, and the one who has continued to inspire me throughout the decades.