Resilient

We know how the dictionary defines resilient, how do you define it? The simplest way for me to explain in regards to a person is someone who no matter what keeps persisting. They’re the people that when crap gets hard, they keep pressing on. Growing up in a farming and ranching community I’ve seen that first hand. That little town laid the foundation for the person I am today. I’ve seen those people band together more than I can count to help the people in the community in their dire times of need. My own family: parents, sister, and grandparents have shown me time and time again. My ancestors left the only home they knew, traveled across the ocean and settled in the west. They moved somewhere they didn’t even know the language, and still made it work. When you start to open your eyes and look around, there’s more people than you can shake a stick at that are resilient. Past and present, so many individuals display it.

I used to hate being called resilient. I was so tired of being the strong one all the time that kept rolling with the punches. I was sick of being the one that still kept a smile on my face when sh*t was hitting the fan. I was exhausted of being that one that always had it together. I wanted things to be uncomplicated, painless, easy going. Ha, what a knee-slapper that is thinking life is going to be a cake walk. Let me let you in on some not so confidential knowledge; God doesn’t present us with anything we can’t overcome. Whatever the obstacle, He knows how capable we are, and He knows we can overcome it. Our biggest roadblock? Ourselves. Yup, that’s right, you reading this. You are your biggest critic. (And the only one who’s opinion matters.) What’s your internal dialogue when a problem presents itself? Do you encourage yourself and say “I’ve got this!” Or do you take a dark turn and tell yourself there’s no way you can achieve that desired end result? How you speak to yourself matters, you believe the things you tell yourself. If you get one thing form this post, take my advice and speak kindly to you.

I grew up as far from girly as a girl could. I didn’t want the pink, frilly and Barbies; I wanted dirt, ballcaps and Hot Wheels. Fast forward to present day, I’m a masculine woman and I fully embrace that. I learned from a young age, that anything a guy could do, I was just as capable of completing the same task. Give me power tools, put me in a tractor seat, or have me push calves down the alley: I’ll find a way to get the task done. I was once asked how I did a manual labor job with acrylic nails. My reply? “Easily.” Just because a woman wants to embrace her feminine side with makeup or fake nails, does not make her any less able to do a “man’s” manual job. Try and tell me women are the weaker sex, I dare you. I’ve been playing in the man’s world for far too long to believe you.

Resilient – what does it mean to you? How ever you personally define it, it’s a downright positive trait. Strong women are a breed of their own. When the world tells them they can’t do something, they find a way to do it. They are diamonds in the rough. Even under immense pressure, women don’t break, they come out stronger. They’re not fragile like flowers, they’re fragile like bombs. Careful what girls you mess with. She might have pushed bigger heifers than you down an alley.

(Strong women words borrowed from someone else on FB)