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Childhood, that intangible entity words fail to describe. An essence so strong that we find it impossible to let go of. The infallible, unremitting freedom and innocence that it brings. Not a care or concern of real importance holding us under like water when drowning. A sacred gift from the heavens above. And yet, one false move, one wrong choice, and it can all vanish in the blink of an eye. Some would argue this is no gift but a curse. A punishment for some wrong that's never been righted by our ancestors or something else entirely. While there are those who grow into adulthood and continue to lead lives as magical as their childhood, others are enveloped into a relentless hell right from the start. Its fury unmatched by any other, and its hold greater than the hands of God himself.

How can we be burdened with such great responsibility and importance at such a young and impressionable age? How are we to know the consequences of said choices? Children are equipped with endless possibilities, fear of nothing and no one, no sense of the 'meaning' of responsibility, the unspoken and expected protection only our parents can provide. Isn't that the reality for every child born into existence?

This is the beginning of a book I am writing. While it is written as a fictional story, it's not far from reality. I was inspired to start this blog because there are so many young girls, teenagers, and women out there who are traversing this world and all that it entails with the strength of a thousand men and courage unmatched by any other. That being said, many of us are doing it alone. We have no one to confide in, no ear to listen to, no shoulder to cry on, and no advisor to help guide us in our navigation of life.

The world, as we know it, isn't getting any kinder or any easier for any of us. As a female, we are met with many unique challenges and tribulations that are inevitable. Many of us have experienced biases, labeling, expectations, abuse, loneliness, unappreciation, and judgment. How many times have you gone through something or been anxious about something and tried to speak with someone, a friend, or your partner, and they took over the conversation, judged you, told you that you were overreacting, didn't listen to what you were saying at all, scrolled through their phone or stared at the tv, cut you off and changed the subject entirely, or promised you they would make time to listen to you, but they never did or were told that your feelings are wrong, and so you are wrong?

I want to share an interesting quote with you, "Woman is not born passive, secondary, and nonessential, but all the forces in the external world have conspired to make her so" (Beauvoir, 2023).

Biology alone does not determine a woman as a woman. Society and upbringing, or lack thereof, are contributing factors. Women learn their roles in society from men and others in society. Women are not born passive, dismissed, secondary, or obedient. All that is in the world has contributed to her becoming as such. Society has not taken away such things from man. Our destinies are not just human choices as they should be. Hard work does not always result in reward and success. For many women, their destinies are a result of circumstances, cultural expectations, societal limitations, and so much more. Those who choose to find those "norms" and choose to not be elegant, fragile, proper, and quiet end up labeled as being unfeminine, unattractive, lazy, and worthless. If a woman chooses to work, she is neglecting her family and her home, and yet if she is a homemaker, she is revered as less than what will she do when her children are grown or should her husband leave or even pass away. Society will view her experience and possibly age as less than.

For many women, this sort of treatment and misconception is a common and even daily occurrence. Experiencing this over and over again can be so deflating, and for some, it can take them to a place of darkness that holds nothing good within it. This awful process starts literally the second we take our first breath as a baby coming into the world for the first time. A father who was expecting and hoping for a boy and instead got a girl, deciding to marry or not to marry, exploring intimacy with more than one person and being labeled as a w***e because of it, choosing to have children and then having to be the one to give up on our dreams and aspirations in order to do so, having to work part-time or having to be the one with the flexible schedule so we can accommodate handling everyone's schedules, doing all the housework and cooking despite working a full-time job and having kids to take care of, holding off on furthering our education until after raising children, being told we are too fat or too skinny, too old or too young, to girlie or not girlie enough, too weak or too strong, too co-dependent or too independent, too sexy or not sexy enough, too loud and outspoken or too quiet and reserved, the list just goes on and on...

I'm not at all saying that men don't have their own expectations and challenges in life, but women have so many more, and while many of them come from men's societal views, some even come from other women. Sometimes on purpose and other times without even realizing it. Kind of like the piece of advice many of us are told by our mothers when we are young and upset because a boy or boys at school are picking on us. We are told that it is because they "like" us. That advice is literally teaching us from the very beginning that it is okay for a man to treat us poorly and that we are to just accept it for what it is. Then there is also all the advice that our mothers should have told us growing up but didn't. Those trials and tribulations we encounter along the way which are just not spoken about, and so we just trudge on accepting it as though we have a responsibility to do so.

This leads me to why I am doing this blog. Let this be a place where you can vent, be heard, find advice, and share your dreams, your passions, and your goals. Share all the big important moments and "all the little things" and just have fun sharing all things life, love, and female...