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Beth's Blog

How Do You Spell “All”?

Is it just ME, or do you, too, remember when the “wonder woman” theory became coined?

No, I’m not talking about the TV show starring Linda Carter as a super-hero.  I’m talking about the potential effect it may have had on the rest of us.

During a recent online chat with a group of well-accomplished women from assorted industries and professions, the conversation related to the notion of a women “having it all”; being “the wonder woman”

 

Opinions varied, which it was made it a valuable chat…

Here are some of my thoughts:

I feel that women have pressured other woman to feel they should want to have it all, that they should need to have it all, that they can handle it all.  Anything that comes up short of that means you haven’t measured up to other women.  Please!

At the end of the day, the only one you have to answer to is the person in the mirror.  If whose looking back at you appears unhappy, exhausted, unfulfilled, what is it that you are trying to prove – and to whom?

Is it a demand on every woman that she aspires to be the world’s best daughter, partner, mother, sister, co-worker, and community-leader? 

I’ve encountered woman who spend every opportunity they can outside of the home doing good for others.  While there’s nothing “wrong” with that, they turn around one day and their own children are grown and gone.  They missed the best part of “their all”.  For what?  Because other women expected it of them?

Let’s stop pressuring; let’s stop competing.  Let’s celebrate the strengths we each have and share them with others whose strengths are different.  Let’s balance our lives, our friendships, our purposes – and most importantly our “reasons”.

I have two wonderful sisters.  No one could doubt we are from the same gene pool.  We sound similar.  We have each been called by the others’ names.  Yet, each of us has very distinct personality traits – what could tease- each other about, otherwise!

Here’s the point:  we each have a ‘go to’ trait that is recognized by those who know us.  It is only in the combination of the three of us that we have our greatest balance; that we can, collectively get the job done, even enjoy the contribution we each make to the outcome.

Conclusion:  I suppose I would say every woman does, or can, have it all – as long as we have other woman to go to, to lean on, to collaborate with;  women who honor us for our strengths and accept us for our deficiencies. 

In coming together, we create stability, results, joy.  We permit each other to not feel bad ‘just because’.  I think this is the kindest thing we can do for each other; we each deserve it.

So, IS it just me, or are you OK with being the best you can be and not worrying if someone else comes out on top once in a while?

Now go call a “sister”

Tell her just how fabulous she is –

just the way she is!

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