To the women who came before me,
In my small family of six, five of us are female. Five! That's so many ladies. Most people could assume we don't always agree on things (especially since we're all hard-headed) but I was raised by these women and they are who have shaped me into who I am today - no matter if we get along every second of the day or not.
I have picked up traits from each of them that make me better – from my grandma, I have gotten resilience; from my aunt, I have gotten compassion; from my cousin, I have gotten whimsicality; and from my mom, I have gotten empathy. We have more women in our family than that, but these are the ones I hold nearest and dearest to my heart.
While these 5 women have been the ones I have been closest to, I still feel a connection to the ones who have come before me in our family.
In our family of five women, we have a saying for when life gets to be trying and you feel like giving in “You come from a long line of strong women.” Whenever I feel as though I am not good enough for school – this echoes in my mind; whenever I feel unworthy of love – this echoes in my mind; whenever I feel as though life is too tough and I am not – this echoes in my mind.
Those nine words that may seem insignificant to some have helped me out of the depths of despair. Whenever they are said, I can’t help think about the long line that I never met.
My mom has told me tales of them. Of the wisdom, they passed down the line, of the lives they lived, of the men they “tamed.” With every story, not only do I laugh until my sides hurt or sometimes cry, I also feel a deeper connection to them, my current family, and myself.
The women in my family – past, present, and future – have been through things that could have broken their spirit; however, not only did they get through them and still manage to enjoy their lives and bring joy to those around them as well, they did it all while raising the next generation of women.
To the women who came to me, thank you for pushing through the tough times. To the women who came before me, thank you for the wild tales you left for me to enjoy.
To the women who came to me, thank you for passing along your strength. To the women who came before me, thank you for setting such a high standard – I can only hope to be half the woman you all were someday. To the women who came before me, thank you.
