Embrace Your Inner Girl
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I’m capable of telling it like it is and capsizing boats that merit sinking, but I haven’t always gone “there” for fear of how I might be perceived or no longer received. GASP. An image-conscious, convivial woman?
I wish I could say it isn’t so, but it’s one of the biggest challenges for women (raising my hand) to overcome before reaching
The convivial promise land of “This is who I am, this is how I live…take it or leave it.”
Thankfully, we have a TED talk like the one given by Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues (pictured above) to remind women how important it is to acknowledge and permit the emotional creature within you to bust out of her imaginary cage and run free when she needs to.
Here’s a confession:
I’ve rebelled against being a girl. Yes, ME.
I’ve rejected my tears, held back my emotions, my sorrow, my uncertainty, even my excitement, all for fear of appearing too girly (read: weak).
I’ve tried to avoid conflict, played nice girl with mean girls, and made every attempt to keep myself looking together during the most troubling times. Why did I do that? Because that’s what strong, good girls do? So I thought…I mean, was taught.
My southern-raised-conservative-thinking-madrecita had a good grip on my thoughts and conditioned a lot of the behaviors I exhibited early in life, but I’m thankful to understand this now…
I’m a woman with a huge will to live and my mother gave me the attitude and temperament needed to cause a revolution.
I’ve played roles deemed appropriate for family and society, culture and religion; for love, acceptance, and approval; for the so-called fairytale or American dream. But here’s the truth: I’m feisty, ambitious, and want to be happily…me. To express all of that, I’ll have to decipher between and potentially rebel against the woman I’ve been conditioned to be so I can truly show up as the woman I am.
That’s sure to piss off and confuse some people along the way, but when in doubt, its key to remember…whose journey are you living- theirs or yours?
Many times, I’ve been encouraged to hold back my nature, keep my mouth shut, avoid rocking myriad boats, and I’ve obliged some people at times, but the real me has no qualms about speaking up in defense of my dreams, personal space, body, privacy and beliefs when they are attempted to be denied, discouraged, disregarded or disrespected.
When you know what your power is and are asked to tame it or hide it altogether, what a caged, unconvivial feeling that can be.
The power within you comes in the form of an emotional creature, a vulnerable woman and there is nothing weak about it. Your inner girl wants to be seen, heard, and known.
The stage is set. The mic’s been checked. The spotlight’s on.
Embrace your inner girl and give her the moment she deserves.
