365 Squarey Monsters: A Day to Celebrate Her

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International Women's Day traces its roots to early 20th-century protests, when thousands of women took to the streets demanding fair pay, safer working conditions, and the right to vote. Their persistence expanded opportunities for future generations.

Now celebrated each year on March 8, the day recognizes the progress that has been achieved and the women whose courage helped make it possible. As they challenged the norms of their time, those protesters could hardly have imagined their impact.

More than a century later, women lead corporations, serve at the highest levels of government, and drive scientific innovation. At the same time, they continue to perform the vital, often unseen work that keeps our families and communities whole.

International Women's Day reminds us that vision combined with persistence can shape the course of events. It's a moment to reflect on the progress that's been made, the work that still lies ahead, and the women whose influence has touched our lives in ways big and small.

Lessons from my grandmother

In my family, there is no better example than my grandmother, Margaret McCann. She embodied both the expanding roles of women and the power of persistence, all while passing values and lessons down through generations.

When my grandfather died unexpectedly in 1949, my father was just 22 years old. He stepped into the family painting business at an age when most young men are still finding their footing. While he learned the trade, my grandmother took on a critical role behind the scenes.

She managed the operational side of the business — pricing jobs, preparing estimates, overseeing finances, and making sure customers were well-served. Her steadiness kept the business afloat and moving forward.

Years later, after I started my own flower business and acquired a company with a certain toll-free number, we hit a difficult stretch. The business was carrying heavy debt, and conversations began to turn toward bankruptcy.

During one of those discussions, my grandmother pulled me aside. She wagged her finger and said firmly, "We don't do that."

Instantly, I understood something about the McCann family that had always been there. Giving up easily was not in our nature. We would find a way forward.

And we did.

Continuing the work

Looking back, I realize that what my grandmother showed in that moment was the same quality that has carried progress forward for generations: persistence. The circumstances may differ, but the principle is the same.

The women and men who marched in the early 20th century understood that change rarely arrives all at once. Nearly a decade passed between the first International Women's Day and when American women gained the right to vote. Progress came because people continued the work, step by step, determined to expand opportunity for others.

The milestones we recognize today are part of that history, but the work is not finished. Expanding opportunity still depends on the willingness of men and women to support one another and open doors for the next generation.

Often that work begins close to home — by mentoring someone starting out, volunteering in a community organization, or participating in professional groups that foster growth and connection. Sharing the stories of those who shaped our own paths can also inspire others to continue the work.

A pause that matters

International Women's Day has a complicated history. Its roots are intertwined with socialist and communist movements, while today the message is sometimes reduced to corporate marketing campaigns and social media hashtags.

At its best, though, it offers a reason to pause and reflect on the progress that has been made, to appreciate the people who helped make it possible, and to carry forward the stories that remind us why that progress matters.

To all the women in our lives, days like this give us an excuse to say something we don't say often enough: I see you, and I'm grateful for the role you've played in shaping my life.

All the best,

Some of the most meaningful decisions we make involve how we give — our time, our resources, and our attention — and the example we set in the process.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with George Corton, founder of First Philanthropy, to talk about what thoughtful generosity looks like today. We discuss why giving in America has long been rooted in personal values and family traditions, and how the most effective philanthropy begins with clarity about what matters most.

George shares what he's seeing as new wealth flows into cities like Miami and how the traditions shaped by leaders such as Carnegie and Rockefeller continue to influence modern giving. We also explore practical questions: how families can organize their philanthropy, involve the next generation, and use tools like AI to support research while keeping human judgment at the center.

50 Years In: The Women Who Shape Our Story

As 1-800-Flowers.com marks its 50th anniversary, I've found myself thinking less about milestones and more about moments — the human ones that explain why our story is still being written. Here's a story about the role women have played in our company.

Grandma Margaret's famous "We don't do that" finger wave is one early example of the influence women have had on 1-800-Flowers.com. It certainly wasn't the last.

Today that influence is everywhere. A majority of our customers are women celebrating the people who matter most in their lives. More than half of our colleagues are women, many in leadership roles. And more than 60 percent of our florist partners are women-owned businesses.

Our community of florists is especially important. They assemble the bouquets and make sure every arrangement is just right for the moment. One of the great honors of my life has been helping them grow their businesses and seeing the impact they have in their communities.

In Los Angeles, for instance, Vivian Chang turned a part-time college job in a flower shop into a career that has lasted more than three decades. Along the way, she has built a thriving business and a strong community around it. When wildfires struck her region last year, she was front and center helping fellow florists get back on their feet.

Across the country in Virginia, Margaret Fleegal built Twinbrook Floral Design with her daughter. What began as a small shop with just three employees has grown into an 18,000-square-foot operation with more than 45 team members and drivers heading out each day to deliver arrangements across the community. Today, the shop spans three generations, with Margaret, her daughter, and two granddaughters working side by side under one roof.

Looking back over 50 years, it's clear that women have helped shape not only our company but also the spirit of community that surrounds it.

What's your St. Patrick's Day ritual?

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and I always look forward to the way it lifts people's spirits. You can almost hear it before it arrives — the fiddles, the laughter, the clink of glasses, and the easy sense that everyone is welcome at the table.

Some celebrate by pulling on their favorite green sweater or hunting for a four-leaf clover. Others mark the day in the kitchen, preparing corned beef and cabbage or baking a loaf of soda bread that's been passed down through the family for generations. And of course, there's always the tall tales, the Irish lore, and the friendly mischief that seems to appear every March.

However you celebrate, St. Patrick's Day has a way of bringing people together and reminding us that a little joy — and maybe a bit of luck — can go a long way.

I'd love to hear how you celebrate. Do you have a ritual, a favorite recipe, or a St. Patrick's Day story that still makes you smile?

Send along your memories, your family rituals, or even your funniest St. Patrick's Day limericks for an upcoming Celebrations Pulse. Extra points if your story involves a lucky moment, a legendary recipe, or an unexpected pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Sunday, March 8, 2026

A Day to Celebrate Her

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