The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: strong

  • On Being Taken Care Of

    Is this what it feels like to have someone give an actual sh*t about you?

  • A Generic Pep Talk

    Dang, but you’re good!

  • Having Something to Say

    It occurred to me recently that before you can be a writer, you must first have something to say. You have to have opinions and thoughts and ideas. You have to be good at explaining and/or describing things. You can’t be hesitant to speak your mind. I’ve always had something to say. No doubt about…

  • Standing in My Integrity

    I once stayed in a 16-year relationship because I didn’t want to hurt the guy’s feelings. Like most women, I’ve been trained since childhood to put everyone ahead of myself. And I’m good at it. Too good. Some things never change. I came across this article about a school in Utah where the little girls…

  • Strong Personalities

    Just the other day I got told I have a strong personality. I get that a lot. The observation usually comes from a man, and it’s not intended as a compliment. I’m also often told that I “speak my mind” or am “opinionated”. (Uh, isn’t that an opinion?) I can’t deny any of those descriptions.…

  • Relentless Compassion

    It’s for your own good. Tough love. This is a last resort. Mother knows best. It sounds good, in theory. Like someone has your best interests at heart, and is establishing firm boundaries. It’s about time, some would say. Strong leadership! Yeah! But even the slightest scratch to the surface of this theory reveals its…

  • Actually, No.

    Here’s the thing. (Yes, there’s always a thing.) I was raised to be a good girl. My default position is to respect authority. Be cooperative. Don’t make waves. Accommodate others. And above all, always, always be polite. Well, you know what? Fuck that. All those values are great if everyone is playing by the golden…

  • Sheroes

    Recently, Norma McCorvey, who was “Roe” in Roe v. Wade, passed away. Even though she became pro-life at the end of her life, what she did for women’s rights in this country was phenomenal. So she is one of my Sheroes (as opposed to heroes) despite her change of heart. I have a lot of…

  • Ignorance is NOT Bliss

    There are few things in life that annoy me as much as an intelligent female who acts stupid because she thinks it’s cute or expected of her. There are women in this world who think people will like them more if they avoid being seen as the smartest people in the room, which indicates to…

  • I’m Confident You’ll Want to Read This

    The other day I saw Katty Kay and Claire Shipman being interviewed on the Colbert Report. They were talking about their new book, The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know. It was a really fascinating discussion, and although I have not read the book yet, I plan to.…