I didn't understand why some of the other girls around me let other people control them, instead of being themselves. I didn't get why people told me I was too pretty to talk like that. I didn't understand why somebody else tried to take control of my life, my story, and determine my outcome. I fought to be able to do what I wanted to do, to call my own shots, and control me. And then my mother described me to somebody by saying "She marches to her own drum," and I realized I'm a strong female.
"A strong female? Yeah right."
"Cocky, aren't you?"
"You can't talk about yourself like that."
"What does that even mean?"
"Am I a strong female?"
Yes. A strong female. No, I'm not cocky, I'm honest. Yes, I can talk about myself like that. What does it mean? Are you a strong female? Let's find out.
We don't ask for permission. We don't spend our time waiting around to see if it's okay to do something. Who are they to tell us no? We go for what we want, when we want it, because if we don't we're going to lose our opportunity. Being a people pleaser is great and all, but if we're pleasing them, who is pleasing us? Nobody. I am not required to set myself on fire to keep other people warm. It's time to throw away what they want us to do and start doing what we want to do. Even though there is a thin line between doing things for us as individuals and doing things selfishly, it doesn't really matter what side of the line we walk on because those who matter won't mind, and those who mind don't matter.
We are not afraid to speak our mind and we're not sorry for doing so. Because again, those who matter won't mind, and those who mind don't matter. Saying how you feel isn't being rude, it's being real. Keeping quiet to make somebody else comfortable isn't okay, because then you yourself become uncomfortable. We don't say maybe when we mean no. We don't sugar coat things, we tell the truth no matter how ruthless we might be. We're unapologetic because you shouldn't be sorry when you're being honest.
We don't need a knight in shining armor, we'll save ourselves. None of that "damsel in destress" crap, we're capable. Just because we're strong doesn't mean we can't break. And yes, we might be broken, but we don't want somebody to pick up our pieces and put them back together for us. We can do it ourselves. We want you to cheer us on and remind us when we are broken that we can handle this. We don't need somebody to fill our glass, because we already filled it ourselves. We don't need somebody to light up our life, because our life is already bright. We want somebody who is going to make our glass bigger, we want somebody who is going to make our life brighter and we want somebody who is going to cheer us on and watch us save ourselves.
Risky is our middle name. Risks are worth it. Taking a risk means possible failure, and most people won't do something if it means they might fail. But we do. Safe and secure is boring, but risky and fearless is strong and resilient. We laugh in fears face. We fight until we are are either defeated or victorious. We don't give up, and we don't stop trying. We stand up when life knocks us down and jump at every chance we get, without thinking twice about it.
We're confident. We show up to every moment like we're meant to be there. We don't advert our eyes, we hold eye contact. We keep our chins up, otherwise the crowns we wear might slip off. We don't want to be like everybody else and follow the trends, because how do you stand out when you physically blend in? We don't put anyone down, including ourselves. We only build each other up; build ourselves up. Smile when its unexpected, work too hard to make sure everyone feels our presences and show up to every event like its ours.
We don't care. We don't care if people hate us, because at least we're being real. We won't stoop to your level and make you feel how we're feeling. We'll let it go, because sometimes the people you lose aren't a loss at all. When people stare, we make it worth while. We know who we are, and we know what matters. There are too many critics without credentials to waste our precious time worrying about what they say when it isn't even valid. It's not your job to like me, its mine.
Call it what you want, badass, alpha female, or a masculine ego with feminine ways, but in the end, it's all the same thing. We're different because we don't settle. We're not bitchy and we're not over-confident, we're honest and true and self reliant. We're strong because we don't accept less than we deserve. And lets be honest, there's nothing more beautiful than a girl with confidence and ambition.
So raise your glass to the girls who do no harm, but take no shit.
Here's to the females who challenge the stereotypes, speak their minds, and don't let others knock them down for who they really are.
Cheers to the girls who take over the world, one high-heeled step at a time.
You're a tough female. Go prove it.