Dear strong, independent women,

We are feisty. We have the power to change the world, and we are determined to do it. We don’t take sass from anyone and our self-esteem is through the glass ceiling. We have bumper stickers and attitudes that say, “We are women, hear us roar!” We don’t need others to tell us they love us, because we already love ourselves so fiercely.

But what about when they do tell us they love us?

What happens when our friends correct us? When someone says “You know, it’s actually 12, not 16,” and we hear a little voice peep out from the crevices of our minds screaming “I know” as our mood sours due to the fact that for half a second we were wrong and we needed help.

We are strong. We are independent. But we don’t accept generosity from others.

We don’t accept love.

It is difficult to accept a hand reaching out to help us when we tell ourselves we are self-sufficient, yet accepting this love with a smile is what makes us strong. Accepting love humbles us incredibly, and as strong independent women, we don’t like to be humbled without our permission.

Humility doesn’t feel strong.

But handling humility with grace is such a raw and beautiful strength.

The ability to show kindness and love in response to humility is the kind of woman that will change the world. She’s the kind of women who can lead by who listening to and respecting others’ opinions.

Some of the most influential women in history had help along the way. I know that Harriet Tubman didn’t help rescue slaves alone. I’m sure that Mother Teresa didn’t serve the poor without any suggestions from the other religious sisters in the Missionaries of Charity. Strong, independent women need help every once in awhile and we need love from our peers -- even if we originally take it as insult.

Let us accept love as strong, independent women. Let us grow in humility. Let us grow in sisterhood. Let us support each other and always reach out a helping hand -- and let us reach back with a smile on our face as we say, “I know, but thank you so much for reminding me.”

Love,

Your fellow strong, independent woman, Kathleen