You're A Phenomenal Woman

“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.”

As a child, I thought I was the cutest person that ever walked this earth. Confidence was something I did not lack. As many know, time waits for no one. As the years went by, slender places gained love handles, features started to mature and only God knows what’s going on with my hair. That pretty little figure said “find me.”

Your disappointment may not as trivial as mine but we’ve all had conflict with our dear friend confidence. Whether your lips are too perky or not perky enough, we’re all perfect. No one has that secret touch to your unique trick. I remember sitting in the kitchen helping chop onions and bell peppers while anticipating in hunger for the finish pot of chicken spaghetti. After waiting for what seemed like years to eat, I was so pleased I asked for the recipe. We started a deep conversation on we don’t like share our secret recipes of all our many talents. In the midst of our chat, her mother interrupted with a question that puzzled the both of us, “why not?”

As we both spoke at once, her mother stopped us mid sentence and made a statement that change my confidence levels forever. She said, “You can give someone your exact recipe and that person will never know how to make the dish exactly like you.”

It doesn’t matter what problem you face, no one will never have the solution like you. You are perfect in your own distinctive way! You are the key to your own happiness, success, peace, etc. McDonald’s and Burger King are both made for their burgers. Both are successful business, both have loyal customers and both have their own unique recipe. McDonald’s burgers will never taste like Burger King’s and Burger King’s burgers will never taste like McDonald’s.

“I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me."

Tears, tears and more tears. Many would say that it’s normal to experience a broken heart after a break up. Although this may be true, who can truly prepare their heart for upheaval? I can remember my first “real” boyfriend. The butterflies in my stomach, the blushing of the thought of him and the countless hours on the phone with my bestie comparing her boyfriend to mine. I was definitely on cloud nine. Then one day there was the break up. My entire world came tumbling down. Imagine ladies, I stood in the mirror and watched myself cry. When that become boring, I proceed to call my friend to stand in the mirror to watch myself cry on the phone. Yes girl, I was heartbroken. I just knew I would never find another love like this guy. Ha. Now let’s fast forward. I’ve repeat that cycle so many times I forgot my count. Each time was just as irrelevant than the last. And if I’m totally honest, I couldn’t tell you the reason behind the tears. While Betty Wright was trying to remember her first time she made love, while I pondered on why I even waste my time. Yas girl! Time heals all those broken heart wounds and old age makes you forget them all, just hang in there.

"Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me."

Life has been and will always be bitter sweet. It throws curve balls, knocks you down and gives sour lemons. I haven’t met a single person that doesn’t have a story of a trial that they’ve experienced. The beauty of each story is that it has a beginning and an end. We as women must always remember that all circumstances have a start date and a finish date. The important factor is what we decide to do in the middle. Rather you decide to cry, dance in the rain, fight pain and just sleep through the storm, one day, it will all come to an end.

"Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s US."

Poem by Maya Angelou