Wendy K. Laidlaw

To see photographs of women coming together over and above the many men is hopeful for their future processing of the profound trauma that they must be enduring right now.

To hear about the many Polish families waiting at railway stations willingly with open arms to welcome complete strangers into their home is so heartwarming during these troubled times.

For women to embrace other women and their families at this overwhelming time when their own homes and towns and villages have been blazoned to the ground

gives great hope.

To see neighbouring countries be supportive when if they had been threatened and hostile, millions of people would be continually displaced.

The BBC News has quoted recently that over 1.2 million Ukrainians have now gone over the border into Poland.

And it's estimated that some 500,000 of these people have been embraced into the Polish homes.

And I commend the women, and of course the men, of these homes for their generosity of spirit and togetherness.

That is a true celebration, an example of International Women's Day right there.

Whilst this one angry man tried to rip apart a whole nation of Ukrainians and destroy their spirit, it'll be these acts of kindness and generosity and togetherness that may help the women, men and children to heal in time.

So we need women to be women and not pretend to be men.

We need more women to recognise that if someone is threatened by their emerging strength,

then to take that as a good sign for they perhaps see the potential in them as it awakens in her and not given to the fear and threat within them.

So remember to celebrate women's accomplishments and see that as the machete through the dense jungle, forging a clear pathway for our daughters, granddaughters and all female generations to come.

For International Women's Day is for women to be celebrated by all women.

Think of five women that you admire the most and the reasons why.

What is it about their character that you are drawn to?

What is it about them that inspires you?

How did they overcome the many challenges and obstacles thrown their way as a woman?

And what has been the meaning and message of their life and their career that kept them going through the dark times?