Recently, and for the first time in my life, I heard myself referred as a “strong person.” I guess they were referring to the fact that I haven’t had a total nervous breakdown, but those people haven’t seen me run into a spider in our basement or watch our dog nearly kill a rabbit in the backyard. But here’s the thing about strength: you don’t know you have it until you have no choice but to have it. When the only option besides strength is letting the icy cold hand of Fear grab you by the throat, you hitch up your skirt and get on with your life.

And while there really, truly are moments that reduce me to a weird emotional puddle (sorry, yoga teacher who watched me cry during savasana) the strength that people are commenting on is really the culmination of a life spent soaking up the strength of other women. 

Even though the history books (Wikipedia) will try to tell you that Girl Power is defined by that '90s girl band, make no mistake: it was invented by my family and perfected by a series of kick-ass women who shaped me into the woman I am now. 
 


My grandmother (left)
Shortly after this picture was taken, this hot babe raised 9 kids, saw over 30 grandchildren and great-children brought into this world and honed her skills as a potter and artist and graduated from college at age 80. She was a lady who could grow anything, make anything and cook nothing at all. 

My mother (top right)
Look at this lady. You think she takes crap from anybody? Of course she doesn’t. When I found out Aaron was in an ambulance, she drove me to the hospital so fast we beat him there. And as I opened the car door to walk toward the giant EMERGENCY ROOM sign, she grabbed my arm and said, “Calm down. Walk in there and be a WOMAN.” And that’s what I did. Besides Instagramming the hell out of that hospital stay.

My sister (bottom right)
When I was in grade school, my sister was a wild college dropout with pink hair who smoked cigarettes, had a tattoo and didn’t give a darn what my parents had to say about it. Now, she’s an awesome mom, a business lady who I swear to God is on the news every single time I watch it, and still doesn’t give a darn what you think of her.

Anne of Green Gables
Fact: I chose my confirmation name not for St. Anne, but for this spunky little orphan. Yep, I’m the worst Catholic ever. To be fair, the priest spelled my name wrong on the certificate so we’ll call it even.

Ramona Quimby
Not just because we shared a face and a haircut for many years, but because her imagination and impatience inspired me to new heights of irrational behavior throughout my childhood, like the time I took my skirt off in kindergarten because tights are basically just stretchy pants.



Buffy the Vampire Slayer  
Sure, Buffy is hot enough to be the popular girl. But she doesn’t use her midriff and dramatic but neutral smokey eye makeup for evil. No, she showed teenage girls at the turn of the century that when life hands you the impending apocalypse, you put on your chunky-heeled boots, grab a sharp wooden object and start stabbing vampires until life goes back to normal. Warning: watching this show can actually fill you with too much confidence. Please remind yourself that watching Sarah Michelle Gellar fight bad guys does not actually give you the skills to physically fight anybody.

Katniss Everdeen
She’s only been a part of my life for a few months and yes, YES I CAN HEAR THE EYES OF EVERY MAN IN THE WORLD ROLLING AT THIS but for the 5 whole hours it took me to read that book, I was Katniss, Aaron was Peeta and cancer was the Hunger Games. I don’t care whose butt I have to kick or how hard it is to shoot a bow and arrow, we’re both getting out of this mess alive. Oops. Sorry for the spoiler. 

Who are your Girl Power role models, your spiritual strengtheners, the ladies who make you feel like your life is a Kelly Clarkson song? It’s totally fine if you say the Spice Girls. I know my sister will.