2.8 A Round Table Discussion on the Tenet, “We are each unique and innately worthy of respect,” with Kim Landeen, Lisa Bjornberg, and Margo Watson

Currents: the Big Ocean Women Podcast

A conversation about the tenet, “We are each unique and innately worthy of respect,” with Kim Landeen, Lisa Bjornberg, and Margo Watson.

“Mothers, when they understand their power, when they understand their divine nature, when they recognize the gifts that they are given, by God, … they’ll do anything to make sure that their children and their family and those they love are protected and cared for and fed and nurtured, even at their own expense.” – Margo Watson

“When women can truly understand that innate power that comes from within them, that intergenerational power that comes in families and family units, they are unstoppable. Like you cannot stop a mother, and there is not a stronger force in this world, political, social, or otherwise that could truly defend the family unit, that could truly lift up society than that of a challenged mother.” – Kim Landeen

“We have to talk about things as they really are, but then we can always look for the positive, and the hope in that realness.” – Lisa Bjornberg

“There is power in the masculine and the feminine coming together, … those energies of creation that occur - it is those lines that I’ve seen - when men truly become feminists that amazing things happen in the home. When women can honor the masculine and when the masculine can honor the feminine, there is power that resides in that relationship; there is power that permeates from that relationship that empowers and emboldens those that are surrounded by that power and that love.” – Kim Landeen

“There is nothing that can replace a father.” – Margo Watson

“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” – C.S. Lewis

“When we think of the divine nature of people and respect that and help them get through those tough times, they’re empowered then to pay it forward.” – Margo Watson

“I want everybody to know that they are worthy of respect, and I feel like one of the ways that we can feel that in ourselves is by showing that to other people. The more I show love to other people, the more I can love myself. The more I respect other people, the more I can respect myself.” – Lisa Bjornberg

“Now I know, and now I will act. I am going to choose to be that person over and over and over again.” – Kim Landeen

“The words that we speak are so powerful. As we continue to speak the truth then it magnifies itself. It also works the other way though. As we tear ourselves down, as we tear other people down, then that becomes that reality, and so that’s why it is so important that Big Ocean Women looks at what’s going on in the world, and then we speak hope, and we speak truth, and we speak light with our reframing. … It’s so important to remember that our words have power.” – Lisa Bjornberg

“Regardless of what circumstances you are at in life, there is a choice there… This is probably going to be one of the themes of my life: You choose what you want to be and who you want to be and how you want to show up.” – Kim Landeen

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” – Alice Walker

“When a woman knows her rights, how to use them, and how to advocate for her rights, she is stronger.” – Amal Women for Women International Program Participant

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

“We as women need to replace any negative thoughts … and remember our divine worth and what innately we are supposed to be doing! Recognize our light, our power, and once we do that, we liberate ourselves to liberate others and empower them to be their best selves.” – Margo Watson

Kim Landeen is a founding member and a Global Team Director of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Kim has a deep love for the natural world. She lives in Alaska with her family where she enjoys spending the slower paced life with her children combing the beach for treasures, gardening, picking wild berries, and spending rainy lazy days making bread, reading books, and watching movies. She is an ecotour captain in Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where she helps educate her clients on the relationship between humanity and the larger eco-environment. In addition to her love of nature, she also enjoys studying theology and the inner workings of the soul as well as tracking global political and social movements. Her love for God, people, and this world drives her to continually seek to improve her own circumstances and the circumstances of all those with whom she comes in contact.

Margo Watson is the Marketing Director for Big Ocean Women. With a Bachelors in Communications and a Masters in Fine Arts/Media, Margo hopes to expand this new division of Big Ocean Women with creative, resourceful individuals, coordinating with the Communications Division to give BOW more exposure. A few goals include finding raving fans in businesses, media, fundraising donors that share similar values that society is better when safeguarding Faith, Family and Motherhood and empowering Men to protect those entities. Margo has worked for 35 years in Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, Politics, Theater, Television, Production, Real Estate and the Arts. She is a former soloist with national orchestras and musicals, pageant judge, and a former Mrs. Utah. She has five talented, married children and nine irresistible grandchildren. She passionately wants them to have a Great America like she had so volunteers in political outreach as well. Her husband Jay D. Blades is a constant support!

Lisa Bjornberg is the Communications Team Director of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. She loves to look for the divine in everyone around her. Lisa is passionate about helping women share their stories and recognize their innate power. She loves to read, sing, and to be active and outdoors. She and her husband Chris are the parents to four children. Lisa loved the years she had homeschooling her children, and is adjusting to them becoming adults. She has come to recognize that life is a grand adventure and faith is essential.