posted on December 31, 2018, by Al Bell
Hello friends! Welcome back to my blog site called The Watering W(h)ole. Half the year is almost past and I have been thinking of another topic I believe warrants our attention. Courage, tenacity, and persistence have been the underlying thought of this next theme I want to share with you all.
Now, I have not totally abandoned my regularly shared health and wellness posts highlighting my transition to a healthier lifestyle but will revisit once this segment is complete.
So what is it that you are describing? Before I so boldly share in-depth with you the theme, let me kinda describe to you my motivation. Over the years I have often wondered about the topic concerning what it means to be a strong woman? Viewing strictly from an open mind I could only make a response based on observing how my mother handled life.
Life for her was in the baby boomer age and involved raising two boys alone. I could only tell you that we always had a roof over our head, clothes on our back, and food to eat. This was all I saw on the surface but never knew the depth of what she really had to endure. Being a woman of color, she undoubtedly had to endure social and economic barriers.
Thankfully she never let those challenges discourage her from pressing on to provide for her family.
That being said, she has been the inspiration behind the segment “The Resilient Woman”
I am in no way an expert on who or what encompasses a Resilient Woman so I have to ask for help. I have requested input on the topic from several women. The women come from various ethnic backgrounds, economic statuses, and age groups. Through a series of interview questions, each will share their perspective on what encompasses the Resilient Woman.
My hope is that we all are better educated and well-informed on Strong and Resilient women.
Hello friend! Welcome back to the Resilient Woman series. If this is your first time tuning in, then you are in for a treat. The guests have been simply magnificent!. Their candid thoughts reveal the reality of today’s challenges and the mindset needed to address them head-on.
If you find yourself here, Yay! I would suggest preparing your mind to be energized and motivated. If you felt you were alone, think again. The series is designed to enlighten you to the fact that we all encounter some of the same challenges and are not isolated.
My next guest is quite talented and experienced. Being a graphic designer with over 10yrs experience she knows what business challenges to overcome and how to translate them into positive business experiences. She is a mom with wit and a direct sense of humor. Take a listen as she shares her thoughts.
So Ashley, can you share a bit about yourself?
Hello, my name is Ashley. I am a stay-at-home mom who also happens to be a Freelance Graphic Designer, Etsy Shop Owner, and Blogger. I’m a small-town girl with big dreams. I would describe myself as extremely driven, competitive by nature, and very much an introvert, although, outspoken when it comes to things, I’m passionate about. I am honored to have been asked to be a part of The Resilient Woman series.
Thanks, Ashley! I am glad you decided to be a part of the series. Thank you!
So,
TWH-What is your definition of a strong woman? My definition of a strong woman is a woman who is confident in her own skin. Someone who is driven and resilient. A woman who, no matter what life throws at her, picks herself up over and over and finds hope and strength at the other end. A strong woman, to me, stands up for what she believes in, chases her dreams fearlessly, and empowers those around her passionately.
TWH-A resilient woman possesses these qualities. Explain. I believe a resilient woman processes many unique qualities, such as; courage, tough-mindedness, confidence, persistence. A resilient woman is a problem solver with an open mind and a creative perspective on life and all it has to offer. She believes in herself and trusts she has the strength to overcome any obstacle. She has faith in the fact that while life doesn’t always go her way, she will always rise in her tenacity.
TWH-Could you name a few situations that highlight or showcase the resilient women in action? To me, motherhood showcases the overwhelming resilience of women the best. Not to take away from dads, because dads are just as important as moms… but, especially these days, moms are somewhat expected to hold their own careers while managing so many different aspects of the household. In many ways, while we’ve been empowered to more easily contribute to our families financially, we also haven’t relinquished the long-standing expectations to be homemakers. I, personally, don’t think this is a bad thing… simply a testament to what women are capable of. Motherhood requires a lot of persistence, determination, and resilience.
TWH-What barriers if any may a resilient woman encounter? The only two common barriers I think resilient women encounter would be, perhaps, being misjudged and taken advantage of at times. I have witnessed strong women be categorized as “bitchy” or “stuck up” or “full of themselves” when in fact, they’re just out here doing their very best and owning whatever it is they have to work with. I’ve also seen resilient women be taken advantage of due to the assumption that “they can handle it” or the fact that typically resilient women don’t shy away from obstacles or problems so others find it easy to dump the load on them.
TWH- Is society recognizing resilient women today and if so how? I think society recognizes the resilient woman today, more than ever before, but I also think, in our society as a whole, we need to continue to build each other up, appreciate our differences and varying “strengths” rather than tear each other down or constantly try to convince ourselves that everyone is the same. While we are all equals as far as our basic human rights go, we are also all very unique. I think we should find a way to treat each other with respect but also rejoice in the fact that we each have something different to offer. That being said, I appreciate the newfound “girl power” movement, if you will. I think it’s beautiful to see women feeling confident in using their voice and also seeing not only other women build each other up, but seeing men build powerful women up as well.
TWH- Who is your example of a strong woman? If more, it is ok to share that too. Personally, my biggest example of a strong woman is my mother. She has been through so many things in her life; a less than desirable childhood being raised by a single mother with four kids, she lost one of her brothers at a young age, and her other two siblings to addictions later in life. Then my dad passed away when my parents were in their 30’s leaving her with four kids to raise herself. And, more recently, went through a very toxic divorce leaving her to essentially start all over in her late 50’s. But, despite all of those things, and more, she has always risen. She amazes me with her ability to still see the good in people and the world as a whole. She is optimistic almost to an annoying degree (hehe) and one of the most reliable people I know. She consistently puts herself in others’ shoes and finds understanding in nearly every situation. My mother is courageous, hardworking, resilient, and persistent. She is strong.
TWH- Do you feel there are limits to being a strong woman? I don’t believe there are limits to being a strong woman. I think that’s one of the things that makes them strong. A strong woman sees no limits. She faces obstacles and challenges head-on without hesitation. Even with butterflies in her stomach, a strong woman will stand tall and push through things others may consider being limitations or may accept as impossible feats.
TWH- If you could help guide someone to being a strong woman how would you help them? If someone were to ask me how they could become a strong woman, I would say, first and foremost… fake it til ya make it 😉 I’m a firm believer in the power of mind over matter. Building a tough mind, for me, is key to being a strong woman. If you can learn to trust in your ability to remain mentally tough, you can do anything. Women are powerful beings by nature, it’s only a matter of believing in ourselves and proving to ourselves over and over that we can do anything we set our minds to.
Yes, yes. Your last point is so true. “Women are powerful beings by nature, it’s only a matter of believing in ourselves and proving to ourselves over and over that we can do anything we set our minds to.” I truly respect the built-in nature and recognize the power of the mind. Well folks, hope you have been inspired from another Resilient Woman’s perspective.
Thank you, Ashley, for being real and enlightening our minds once again.
To keep up with Ashley, follow her on the other social media connections listed below.
Twitter: @aferalintellect
LinkTree: linktr.ee/garrettgraphicsinc
Etsy: Etsy.com/shop/garrettgraphics
