I love being a woman. Don’t you? If I had the choice, I would choose to be a woman every single time. I love all that women are and all that we can be and I do think of the two sexes, we have the best qualities and characteristics and many elements that men do not share. Whoop!
Even despite our unfair position compared to men in this world (still!), the sexism, the discrimination, the restricted opportunities, especially in the corporate world, women have shown nothing but tenacity and determination to fulfil their potential and to be exactly who they are supposed to be.
I just have to look through my friends list on Facebook and be so thankful that I am surrounded by such awesome female friends. Inspiring women from all walks of life. Stay-at-home mums doing their best to nurture lovely human beings, artists and philanthropists, self-less charity workers, respected journalists and news readers, adventurers and world travellers, business women who are at the helm of their own businesses or forging the way in other people’s businesses, entrepreneurs and some of life’s true ass-kickers. Sometimes I look at my timeline and I swell with pride when I see all of the good and the positivity spilling out from it.
Anyway, this post today is just some ramblings that came into my mind this morning, when I woke up with a huge smile on my face and felt very lucky to be exactly who I am and to have the freedom to be exactly who I am. Because hell, I am so aware that so many women, too many women, do not have this right.
Photo by Albert Pamies
Growing and becoming
There is a really naff saying that women are like wine because they get better with age. A crap saying I know, but so so true. I’m going to be 40 this year (what the fudge?) and I can honestly say I have never felt better.
I love who I am now. I am the most confident, positive and happy I’ve ever been. I also know who I’m not. I know what I want and want I don’t. I know what I like and what I don’t like. This level of certainty comes with age. I’m sure of it. It also means I’m quite no nonsense and have no time for shit. If someone is negative and has no positive influence, energy or good to share with me, then I don’t want them anywhere near me. A good rule in life, I think!
We women have so many plates to juggle, so many roles to be and I am in awe of all that we do and how we get about doing it. We are pretty damned awesome.
I’m off now to revel in my fabulousness but I’m going to leave you on this Friday morning with my favourite poem from one of my favourite writers, Maya Angelou, which I think speaks to us all on so many levels, but most of all it’s about just being yourself, the phenomenal kick-ass women you’re meant to be!
So this is for you beautiful ladies. To those of you I know and those of you I don’t. You’re awesome and that’s a fact.
Phenomenal Women
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
