Returning from California with a desire for peace, I accepted, at the request of a friend, to get involved with a women's federation in crisis. I knew that embarking on such a mission was not without risk. But driven by my convictions and an ideal of professional equality, I decided to take on the challenge.
A revealing crisis
From the very first discussions, the situation looked critical: the impossibility of finding a president, a massive drop in membership, club closures, financial opacity... My candidacy was well received by the international federation. In France, the outgoing president initially offered me a transitional vice-presidency. I declined, wishing to act freely. This was our last exchange.
The next day, she announced her candidacy for a third term, even though the statutes prohibited it. Tensions rose, personal attacks intensified, and the international federation had to intervene. What could have been a peaceful transition became a sterile confrontation. No one emerged as a winner, least of all the women's cause.
Friendship, politics and lucidity
This episode made me reflect on the notion of friendship in the political sphere. The crisis acts as a revelation. Some bonds are strengthened, others are broken. Sometimes strategies are hidden behind smiles. I learned to discern real intentions more quickly. And above all, to stay aligned with my deepest motivations.
Women and power games: a taboo to be lifted
The idea that women are more united among themselves is a myth. Power struggles also exist in women's spheres, with violence that is often indirect and more insidious. Manipulation via email, oppressive silences, alliance games... nothing is missing. This made me wonder: does the end justify the means? Who defines the "common good"?
Nietzsche said, "All life is the will to power." This will can go awry when it's not guided by a strong personal ethic. This pushed me to refocus on my values.
Destiny, freedom and choices assumed
Sartre said, "We are our choices." I chose to act, fully aware of the risks. This choice exposed me, but it also strengthened me. I felt this tension between the call to action and the desire for tranquility. Seneca reminded me, "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, but because we do not dare that they are difficult."
My own life trajectory, marked by a determined personality, led me to this experience. Nothing is ever entirely by chance.
Finding meaning in the absurd
When faced with challenges, I often think of Camus and his Sisyphus. Sometimes you have to give meaning to absurd struggles in order to keep moving forward. This experience reconnected me with my deepest values: honesty, faithfulness to one's word, and self-improvement.
A transformative experience
This associative adventure was a true initiation. I gained clarity, discernment, and inner strength. I learned to detect manipulation more quickly, to set my limits, and to remain faithful to what deeply motivates me.
Sartre said: "The important thing is not what has been done to us, but what we ourselves do with what has been done to us."
In conclusion
I share this experience with those who wish to engage without losing themselves. For those who want to reconcile action and ethics. May you find food for thought in it... and inspiration for your own commitments.
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