I'm not the type of person to back down. I'll ask "why", I'll tell you how wrong you are, and I'll question your viewpoints. I'm open-minded, I want to know you, and I want to watch you grow as a person. My friends have told me in recent years that I can do anything, but it took me until now to realize what they meant.

By anything, that does not include math, athletics, or proper highway driving. They meant that I was resilient.

One would be lead to believe that strong women gravitate towards strong men, but that wasn't the case for me. I loved a man who wanted to be referred to as "a savage," yet he was the same man who could not look me in the eyes when he spoke. This was the man who was afraid to hurt someone's feelings.

I watched him follow his friends and I laughed. He always did what they believed was "right." I held a job at night, and he had a job during the day which meant he was never willing to make time to see me. The excuse of being "too tired" rang in my ears. I started to realize that if he wanted to see me, he would make time.

He acted like leaving me was "doing me a favor." He lied straight to my face. He asked me for a hug and I firmly said, "no, you're such a liar." He tried to say that he would always be my best friend and I told him again, "you're a liar."

Through this all, I began to gather that he was simply a weak person. He was afraid of a woman that wouldn't tolerate anything less than an authentic person.

Yes, I cried, but that's okay. I drove off in my beaten down, very laughable mini-van knowing that the loss wasn't mine. The relationship I was in was a control thing. He wanted to control my feelings because someone toyed with his. He wanted to be superior to me because his entire life he was inferior to someone else. He wanted me to hurt because he had been pushed around his entire life.

When he realized I was untouchable, he ran. I couldn't be his sweet, passive girlfriend. I wasn't the type to say, "I need you," and I never begged for him to be in my presence.

So, to all the women that speak their mind, who will stand at 6'7, when they're really 5'4, Go you. Lock eyes, let them see their reflection in your bright eyes and let them have it.

Sure, it might not be considered "lady-like" to raise your voice, but in some situations, it is more than necessary. You are not the "bitch" men refer to you as.

You are the heart and soul of society. Thus, you will speak out and you will make a difference. Be unapologetic, blunt, but only in constructive ways. Don't go tearing people down unless it's warranted.

Just remember, weak men run from strong women. Let them run.