Strong women

I come from a long line of strong women.  In fact my Minnesota heritage has a story of the Strong family name associated with Atwater Minnesota where my great grandmother Grace lived.  Supposedly her step brother (Sidney Strong) stole the family farm....lots of history in all the land stolen from us. Tracing our lineage back to Ireland. 

Thinking about family I've had and friends I've known...women have come out the strongest.  I'm amazed by the ability of these people to live lives, hunker down over dreams, come to grips with other people's realities and submerge themselves for survival. 

I sat with a girl I met over the weekend.  Her first question to me was - how old are you?  I said 35 she said "I'm 22."  Then she ranted on about a man she broke up with 4 months ago who she'd dated for 6 years. In as few words as possible, since it was a frustrating conversation, I told her she'd find herself but probably not for another few years. It was hard to not project how I thought her life was going, until I took a step back and thought - she'll get there.  The development of another strong woman. Sisters, cousins, nieces, mothers, aunts and friends. 

They say 97% of literary fiction books are purchased by women.  It sounds startling until I think, each of these women I've know, could write their own story.  Not only would it be a struggle for each of them to find their true glory - it would be interesting.

To do exactly what one needs to - to survive, may leave people hurt, may leave people doubting, may leave people not trusting who you are.  This is all only a projection of who they think you are in opposition to their own lives.  Everyone wants to put you in a perspective, one they can admire or justify.  Staying true to your path - doing what you want - may never gain understanding or friends, in the long run  - only you can create your own joy.

Dan just said - "are you writing some feminist propaganda over there".  I smirked and said "yep".

And so it goes....