Great Women

Since this month is Women's History Month, I thought it befitting to do a few posts over great women. When I began thinking of the great women in my life, I was surprised that the list was so long!

I'm so thankful that these women have come into my life. A few have stayed, but some of the greatest have gone and left such a great heart-print on my life. I think of all of them as so incredibly strong. Funny. Just in the past week, several people have said or written to me "Tisha, you must be strong because . . ." Ha! A lot they know. I do not feel strong most of the time, at least not on my own accord. 

Of all the women that I think of as strong, I think of my own birth mother. I've said this while blogging before, but as a mother myself, I cannot think of a greater strength and love: giving up your own child so they may be cared for in ways you are aware you cannot provide. Adoption stories are always so close to my heart. As I get older, they always, without a doubt, bring tears to my eyes. I admire her so much for something I'm pretty sure I couldn't do. 

As for women that I don't know, personally, one of my favorite strong women is Maya Angelou. If you have not had the chance to read some of her writings, do. She has a great story and is such an inspiration to so many, including me. 

I leave you with an excerpt from each of my favorite of her poems and dedicate them to the strongest of women in my life: 

Still I Rise

. . . 

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops

Weakened by my soulful cries. 

. . . 

You may shoot me with your words, 

You may cut me with your eyes, 

You may kill me with your hatefulness, 

But still, like air, I'll rise. 

Phenomenal Woman

. . . 

Now you understand 

Just why my head's not bowed

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud. 

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say, 

It's in the click of my heels, 

The bend of my hair, 

The palm of my hand, 

The need of my care. 

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Necessary Boundaries

We all need them. We all struggle to keep them. Some of us overstep them. Boundaries. 

My week seemed to take a turn around Tuesday. Tuesdays are like that always. Mark my words. Tuesdays seem to take on a life of their own with me. I've blogged about it before in the 1st chapter. 

For some reason, this Tuesday's theme was boundaries. I had to deal with several people and several situations where people overstepped their boundaries. I'm not sure how I really dealt with this before. Probably the same as I did as a kid. I never want to make anyone upset. I have difficulty telling people that they need to "step back." I don't want to disappoint. On this particular Tuesday, I think I had to redirect at least 3 people due to a boundary issue. Wow. The amazing thing is that I handled it. I wasn't rude or disrespectful, but I called it like it was and refused to give away my power.

The past year has taught me a lot about what is ok and what is NOT ok. When you say no, it means no. When someone is making themselves part of your conversation to someone else, they need to be redirected. When a person is trying to enter your life after saying, "No, thanks," they need to set straight. When someone is trying to manipulate a situation, call them on it. 

This is something that I'm now addressing with the girls. I feel that discussing it with them at a young age might help prevent them from being "run over" in the future. Girls, especially, need to be taught that their voice matters and no one has the right to discount their opinion, thoughts, or words. To help with this idea, I'm seriously considering putting them in karate. Actually, I'm seriously thinking of taking it with them. Ironically, this month is Women's History Month. I'm so glad that during this time there are so many strong women for my girls to look up to and, thankfully, some of them are in our lives now. 

Boundaries. We all need to be more conscious of them. Wednesday was a new day and as I sat down at my desk at the administration building, I noticed my co-workers desk. Coincidence? There hasn't been one in my life yet. Sitting neatly on her desk was a copy of Boundaries.