Part 2… The first person on your “role model” list should be YOU! (as in me ;)). Thank you Christina…

… AND… as I realized at my baby sprinkle… the women around you. I mean, you’re with them for a reason, right?

I had my sprinkle right after I wrote Part 1 of this essay, and I was immediately comforted by the amazing group of ladies who were there to support me. Ladies who despite awkward stages (see above… oh yeah… remember what I said about not dating?), remained confident and oblivious to their boy fros, feathered hair and oversized glasses.

Seriously! Natalie (pictured first), told me she was completely confident in herself at all times… I mean just LOOK at that Kung Foo Fighting pose! She’s a successful businesswoman and mother of two amazing boys and throws the best “throw back Thursday” pics onto Instagram that my friends and I have ever seen. No shame… all game!

And Kinga… from Poland, could barely speak English, pictured second standing next to… I’m not sure… but most pics I see are of her next to some roadkill. Awkward? No… She now swims with sharks and hosts adventure series on Fox Sports and the National Geographic Channel. Awkward roadside roadkill pics were just a prelude to her curiosity, fearlessness and love for life and exploration!

Oh and that THIRD girl… I was also quite confident. I grew into this girl… tumbling and twisting through half of my life with joyful abandon!

 

I don’t want to make this essay about looks, though, (although the flashbacks are AMAZEBALLS and confidence can bloom with some contacts and maybe a bit of hair color)… I want to make it about that inner source of confidence and love that it seems to me I have found in myself, and in the women around me that I admire… whether it was there all along, or whether it developed a little bit later.

Where does that confidence come from?

I believe it’s from focus. Focus on the inside, focus on a concrete and inspiring goal, focus on a community and the belief we women can create a positive environment for ourselves despite society’s efforts to thwart us.

This has become even more clear to me as I’ve joined the blogging world. I had my fears… but I have found friends that are real gems, and I absolutely LOVE the inspiration I am finding through them… through social media… blogs, instagram, etc.!!! Who woulda thought?

So girl… (name to be revealed oh-so-soon)… I can’t wait to be your role model… and to introduce you to all the fabulous ladies in my life… fears be damned!

This former tomboy/sometimes girly/eclectic/edgy mama can’t wait to see what you bring… I’ve got pink and ruffles and leather and rock t-shirts on hold for the choosing, with an extra heaping dose of confidence on standby… for every step of the way ;).

Tell me ladies… as I step into this new role as a mother to a daughter… who/what has been your confidence builder as a woman? Would love to hear :).