Have you ever asked yourself what a strong woman is? I have asked myself this question so many times because some of my family and friends have told me that “I am a strong woman” so many times but deep down I felt like I did not know what a strong woman was. At times I used to imagine a woman with muscles every time I heard someone tell me how strong I was (laughing) I really did not consider myself strong or weak. Even though I have faced and overcome so many challenges in my life I did not understand what it was until being strong was my only choice.
I got married incredibly young at the age of 18 and got pregnant when I was 19 years old. I felt accomplished at such an early age. I was working at La fitness working as a janitor making $11 and my then-husband was a painter at the Shipyard making almost $2000 a week. Of course, he was a lot older than me, but I cared for him because he was there when I most needed him. He bought me my first Luxury car, we got our first apartment together, and then I got pregnant and married. Looking back, I must say we lived a good life of course with lots of difficulties in marriage but what marriage is perfect?
We lived incredibly happy years until one day he got caught drinking and driving and was deported back to Mexico, my whole life changed completely. I did not see myself as a single mom. A million questions were going through my head at that time “What am I going to do”? How am I going to pay these bills? There is no way I can be a single mom, how am I going to take care of our child all by myself? Guess what? I had no other choice and that is when I knew that I am now a strong woman.
What is a strong woman? I can now confidently say I know exactly who she is! I did not sit around feeling sorry for myself.
A strong woman is courageous
I had to face so many challenges, but I learned how to stand up for myself. I refused to give fear the time of day, but I never saw my emotions as a weakness because I understood that it is okay to cry, to feel frustrated, trust me healing is on the way.
A strong woman believes in herself
It is funny how a lot of people thought “that was it” for me, but the devil is a liar! I started working 2 full-time jobs at the bank where I was able to pay all my bills, my car, and buy a house at the age of 23. That is because I believed in myself, and I was strong enough to know that it is not about proving nobody wrong but proving myself right!
A strong woman helps others and builds others up
A lot of people see kindness as a weakness, but it is not. I remembered when I was a teller and the customers always used to say how lovable and kind I was. One day the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of a different bank which was a customer said that he wants me to work at his company. I agreed and applied; it was the best experience of my life.
A strong woman is happy no matter what she is going through
A strong woman understands that happiness comes not from nobody else but herself. I believe that part of growing and learning is to love and accept yourself with your flaws and all, and sometimes its hard to be completely and totally honest with yourself, but a strong woman must be happy no matter what to really find happiness.
*This is my first blog please excuse any grammar issues😀
