Five Ways to be a Stronger Woman TODAY (aka Sorry, Dudes, You'll Get a Post Next Week)
I think the best compliment anyone can give me is if they describe me as "strong". I'm not always this way (and dammit, if I don't need a lot of assistance along the way), but I do like knowing that if I need to take charge in life, I can. Making my own decisions, doing what's best for me and my relationships (even when it hurts), and hell, even going to a fancy restaurant or a movie by myself is, well, like my crack.
THAT'S RIGHT, I DO FIGURATIVE DRUGS.
Anyway, without further ado:
1. Stop putting up with shit you wouldn't allow your girlfriend/sister/mom to put up with--That's right, Ms. Making-Excuses-for-Your-Partner-or-Love-Interest's-Bad Behavior. Stop it right now. You deserve better.
2. Try something new--Maybe it's something as small as taking a different route home from work. Break out of the mundane and see what possibilities wait for you in your own neighborhood.
3. Say "No", just this once--You're overbooked as it is, and no one will mind if you miss one meeting/get-together/small obligation for a nap, a solitary glass or wine, or some snuggle time with your kids (both real and fur).
4. Wear it because it makes you feel good--Don't wear it because it's in fashion, you think your mom will like it, or because it's "appropriate". Meh. Be comfy if you like comfy, be crazy if you like crazy, and be just a little bit slutty if you like slutty (I see you, my BCBG heels. You're not really right for work, but you need some love, too.)
5. Control your life, don't let your life control you--See above.
What do you do that makes you feel strong?
Posted by The Naked Redhead
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8 comments:
damn, u took my list! lol.....
what makes me feel stronger is:
1. following thru w/whatever i say.
2. speaking my mind and not saying what I think others want to hear.
Dude, right friggin' on! The day I became a woman is when I turned 18, bought my own tool kit and decided I would be making my own domestic repairs (and fixing my own computer) from then on. Then, when I moved in with my boyfriend, I was the one recruited to fix the washing machine / tinker with the plumbing / re-screen all the windows.
I guess there are downsides to being too strong... ;-)
I love number 4. I often feel like I overdress at work or won't buy certain things because of how my coworkers dress, so it's nice to have a reminder that I should dress to make myself feel good. Even if I'm in pencil skirts and heels and they are in dockers and flats.
1. Do the kinds of exercise (for me this is dance and yoga) that you enjoy - don't work out to punish yourself.
2. Don't diet. Diet's don't work. And there's a lot of research that indicates they're actually bad for you. Learn how to eat intuitively.
3. Just ignore beauty standards in general if they don't make you happy. If you like shaving, go for it, but if it makes you miserable, well, it's not like leg hair is going to kill you.
Amazing list!
Great post :)
What makes me feel strong:
- Say that I'll do it and then do it
- the moment my (male) room-mates asked me to fix the wireless LAN ;)
- go to concerts alone just because I like the music and if nobody else does, wayne?
- going home at night alone (well, might be a bit risky, but I'm definitely not the would-you-mind-to-escort-me-girl)
- knitting in public
- carrying my bags alone (if I want to take it along, I'm the one to carry it)
Allyson's comment cracked me up. For some reason the idea of death by leg hair strikes me as the funniest thing ever. ;)
If I may, I'd like to add a #6 to the list:
realize there are many different ways to be strong.
It's not all about physical toughness (though that's good). Sometimes being strong is having courage to speak up when no one else will. Sometimes being strong means having the emotional strength to deal with trying circumstances.
And it's not all about independence (though that's good too.) Sometimes strength means letting your guard down, despite the risks, to open up to someone. Sometimes strength means knowing when to suck up your pride and ask for help, realizing it doesn't make you weaker.
One word AMEN.
I preach the same thing to my friends.
Since I have been a take charge woman all of my life, I lead by example.
Go girl....
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