A Strong Woman

Our world is made up of many strong women. Everyone has their own definition of strength and what it entails, but I assure you, everyone has someone they know that can be put on this list. A strong woman could be you, your mother, aunt, cousin, wife, girlfriend, teacher, or the cashier at the department store.
When you look at a woman, the things that you don’t see are just as important, if not more important, than the things that you do see. What you see is almost the end result of time, effort, loss, pain and hope, among other things. The reason that I say almost the end is because with each day, every moment of that day, we are still growing, learning, reaching and resolving a new dream or dilemma.
A strong woman doesn’t need you to break through barriers to reach her soul. Her soul is right there and you will see it when you look into her eyes. She knows the many types of love and has felt the sting of loss. She doesn’t depend on others but knows when to ask for help. If she has made a mistake, she learns from it and is responsible enough to own it. A strong woman knows how to treat people, whom to keep close and whom to keep at bay.
"A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.”~Marge Piercy
I use to think that some women I knew where weak. That is how I defined people, two categories, weak and strong. I had a few strong women in my life; thick skinned, tough, determined, yet very loving. Their laughter rings in my ears today. I can tell you that I have learned a lot about life from them. Have you learned valuable life lessons from other women? Has it changed your life?
A strong woman may not tell you what exactly she has gone through or where she draws her inner strength from, that is up to you to figure out or she will tell you if she wants you to know. Her loving soul has not been hardened by life, but has been made softer and more sentimental with time.
What makes a strong woman? To me, you can take the same situation and give it to two women, one of those women will not only exceed your expectation with the outcome of that situation, but walk away unscathed by it, and the other woman will be unable to deal with the situation. A strong woman knows her strengths and weaknesses, how to love and be loved, she knows how to let her voice be heard without all the drama, she knows how to hold her head up high during the most trying times, she knows how to be courteous despite not wanting to be, she knows how to distance herself from the unkind, and how to love beyond measure.
A strong woman has many layers, that is why they are referred to as thick skinned. Those layers know heartache and struggles. They know how to extend love to everyone they know. Their gift is their strength. They give their energy to you and your goal should be to give it back. Stand up and acknowledge her, as she demands respect. She doesn’t depend on a relationship or anyone to define who she is, but knows that it is a huge bonus to have one. It takes a strong man to love a strong woman. A strong man will walk side by side with a strong woman. A strong man knows that he does not define the relationship, that it is an equal bond made of both. A strong man will emphasize her strengths and offer her support during her moments of weakness.
This is one of my favorite quotes.
“I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.”~Anais Nin
I salute all of the strong women in our society and to those who haven’t yet discovered their own strengths.