On Women and Confidence

This time last week I was driving to Williamsburg to see my friend Nadia compete in a figure competition. I thought I was there to see Nadia, but my eyes were open to see so many more women from all walks of life. When I saw the children in the audience supporting their mothers, I saw women who were setting an example for their children to follow. For the woman with two young daughters, she was teaching them about the strength of a woman. Her discipline, her dedication, and her commitment will always stick with them. For the woman with two young sons, whom I believe won in several categories, they now see women differently. Yes, mom takes care of us, but mom also has a life with vision and purpose. How might young men and even older men see and treat women differently once they see them as people with hopes and dreams just like them? And then came the bikini competition. Before that portion began the emcee asked the question how many of us would feel comfortable being on stage with such a tiny bikini, and then I saw HER. I saw HER, the 59 year old woman who boldly and confidently pranced across the stage, and for me everything changed in that moment. What must it have taken for a “woman of a certain age” to be on stage with women several years younger than her? Not only that, what was it like to first agree to do the competition, then prepare for it, and finally strut your stuff on stage? I can only imagine what it was like for her, but for me and hopefully others in the audience it was life and renewed hope. Who tells us that we become too old to do anything? Who puts us in boxes and tells us what we can and cannot wear? I’ve been advised in both areas of what I can wear and what I can do, but seeing this warrior on that stage has silenced those voices for me. To my readers, how do you currently feel about yourself? Do you know just how powerful you really are regardless of what other people say?