I have this urge in me to connect with other women. Ok, so maybe that seems a little basic. But does it? Do you look at other women and say “I wish I looked like her.” “Why does she get to be in that relationship and I can’t find myself someone who loves me?”. “She didn’t even work as hard as me and she has a better job”. “She’s only like that because her parents helped her get there.” It’s ok to admit it if you do. I’m simply here asking so that you can identify that seed growing in you. It’s the jealousy seed and those comments are just the seed. Imagine if you let it grow into a tree!
Let me be a little more frank. Women should not be jealous of each other.
When I was younger I never connected with other girls. Other than my twin sister of course. But our friends were always the skater boys or the little boy down the street who liked to break dance with us in our living room. Yes! We did breakdance. I’m digressing. When we went back into public school, this continued. Sure we were friends with girls too but those relationships didn’t stick. I wasn’t very girly. Not in my physical appearance and not in my attitude. I didn’t feel that jealousy over other girls because I wasn’t trying to connect with them over which lipgloss their allowance bought them that month or which padded bra was bigger. (there was NO regard for what was natural looking!!!)
It was a couple of years ago that I started connecting with women. And just like that, it was unstoppable. I wanted to know every one of them. Their differences. Their struggles. And definitely their secrets! It’s funny because every woman I know has a secret. It usually makes them. Not so much the secret itself but how they hide it or if they do. Maybe it’s because I have hit an age where women care less about lip gloss and padded bras. But other women feel so important to me as I build my own business. I was telling my sister in law that when you’re a woman growing a business, the lifeline is other women. It’s a given. It’s like you can’t just be one woman. You have to be a girl gang or a boss babe. It’s a group effort culturally.
If you are a woman business owner, or entrepreneur and want to connect, comment below! Let start a session of sharing. Is there something you are trying to bring to the world? To your community? Is there an audience you are trying to reach? Is there a step you are afraid to take in your adult life? What is holding you back? If you’re holding yourself back, what would it take to let your self take that next step?
I remember in design school, we talked about artwork that gave permission. It usually was a piece that was a little bit out there. The piece usually pushed limits and made you stop in your tracks. These were called “permission giving” because when you looked at them, you felt able to push limits yourself because someone had already tested the water for you. I want to be that for you. I give you permission, Girlfriend!