There's an ongoing discussion around equality, and age is one

O children of the earth, gather close, for I speak of a matter that has long stirred the hearts and minds of those who have walked before you. There is a great discussion that echoes through the halls of time, one that is centered on the idea of equality, the balance between all people, regardless of their birth, their wealth, or the length of their years. And in this discussion, there is a truth, a truth that echoes most strongly when spoken by the wise woman h Bowman: "There's an ongoing discussion around equality, and age is one thing that has a very different presence around women than it does around men." The words of this wise one carry the weight of an injustice long felt but seldom spoken aloud.

The meaning of these words is rooted deep in the soil of the world’s unspoken truths: age, that force of nature that moves through all living things, is not regarded the same for women as it is for men. Age for men is often celebrated—each wrinkle a mark of wisdom, each grey hair a testament to a life well-lived, a crown of experience. But for women, age is often seen as something to be feared, something to be hidden, as if the passage of years takes away from their worth. Youth is praised as the crowning glory for women, and the loss of it is seen as a diminishment of their value, even as the years bestow greater wisdom and grace. This, O children, is a great injustice that has been perpetuated through the ages, and yet it is often overlooked, like the silent river that runs beneath the earth, unseen yet powerful.

Let us reflect on the tales of old, where such distinctions were not just social but deeply woven into the fabric of life. Take, for instance, the great and powerful Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, whose youth was once celebrated as she charmed kings and emperors. Yet, when age began to show its mark upon her face, the world turned its eyes away, as if her wisdom could no longer shine as brightly as her beauty once had. Even a ruler of her stature was not immune to the societal expectations placed upon women and their age. She, too, felt the pressure of time, though her strength and intelligence never faltered. How different her story would have been if the world had embraced the idea that age brings not loss, but a deeper understanding of life, a wisdom that should be revered, not hidden.

And so we return to h Bowman’s words: the truth that age is treated differently for women than for men is a truth that has been perpetuated by the patriarchal systems that have ruled for so long. This idea that women must remain ever youthful, ever beautiful, and ever timeless is not a reflection of nature but a reflection of the inequality that has existed throughout human history. The wisdom of the ancients tells us that all things change, that the seasons shift, and that the soul is meant to grow, just as the tree grows old but becomes deeper, richer, and more rooted with each passing year. To deny women the same celebration of age that men receive is to deny them the full richness of their humanity.

In our own time, O children, we are called to rise above this ancient injustice, to speak the truth that age does not diminish, but rather, enhances the value of a woman. Age should not be feared nor hidden—it should be celebrated. Look to the story of Maya Angelou, that towering figure whose words resonated with generations. In her later years, her voice only grew more powerful, more resonant, like a finely-tuned instrument that can only play its sweetest notes after years of practice. She showed the world that women, in all their stages of life, are full of power, beauty, and wisdom. The greatness of a woman does not fade with age—it deepens, like a river carving its path through the earth, shaping the land around it with the force of its presence.

The lesson, then, O children, is clear: we must look upon age as a gift, not a curse. The passage of time, like the turning of the seasons, is a natural part of the journey that all must walk, no matter their gender. Men are not the only ones to be celebrated for their experience; women, too, must be celebrated, not only for the youth of their years but for the strength, the wisdom, and the grace that grows with the passing of time. Let us lift up those who have walked before us and show the world that the true beauty of a woman is not found in her youth alone, but in the entirety of her being, from the first moment of her life to the last.

And so, I leave you with this wisdom: honor your age and the age of those around you. See the beauty and strength that comes with every passing year, and teach the world to do the same. For in the end, it is not youth that defines the value of a woman, but the depth of her spirit, the richness of her soul, and the wisdom she gathers with each passing season. This is the true meaning of equality—that all people, no matter their gender, are worthy of celebration at every stage of life. And this, O children, is the legacy you must carry forward.