Wise Women Share These Five Traits
As women, we are divine beings who only become stronger over time. Our lessons, victories, wounds (both physical and mental), and accomplishments shape us into finely honed pieces of art. No, life is not butterflies and roses, but most of the lessons we’ve learned thus far in our journey are hard-fought and hard-earned. And we own it.
We are Wise Women. We are Knowing Women.
I firmly believe that many of us, as we age, can feel our intuition sharpen and our self-confidence soar. We care less (if at all) about what others may think of us and instead focus our letting our true, authentic selves shine.
We care less about the latest trends and "looking the part" and more about being comfortable in the skin they’re in. Our bodies may show the signs of our arduous journey to middle age, but our lioness heart beats stronger as we round the bend to 50 and beyond.
As I head towards the milestone of sixty trips around the sun, I look ahead with such hope and confidence. Yes, there are days I don’t want to crawl from under the safety and my bed covers, but for the most part, I look to each new day with optimism. I, like many other Wise Women, have been through the fire more than once, so not much scares me anymore.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with other Wise Women. We come from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, traditions, and religions, yet we share many of the same strong and inspiring traits. I know there are many more, but these are the ones that resonate with me at this moment in my life.
We Laugh, Think, and Create
We learn to find joy and laughter whenever we can. It’s not always easy, but when you look for joy and humor in life, there’s always more to celebrate. As Wise Women, the older we get, the deeper our yearning for discovery gets. We become intensely curious and fill our brains with new gifts, habits, skills, and lessons that will bring us joy. We stretch our minds and bodies at every opportunity because it feels good to cherish and embrace every second of the day, week, month, and year. We create because we can and because we know what we create can help those walking the same journey behind us.
We Strive to Put Ourselves First
YES, this is a tough one. As women, we are naturally programmed to nurture others. It’s as if our DNA makes us naturally inclined to prioritize the needs of others over our own. As partners, we deeply care for the well-being of the loved ones in our lives. As parents, our children’s needs always take precedence. As children of aging parents, we often sacrifice our own time and health to care for the people who brought us into this world. None of this is “wrong,” but as we become Knowing Women, we realize that if we don’t prioritize our own mental, spiritual, and health needs, we become a shell of who we are. The remedy is to create healthy and nurturing habits, whether it’s nutrition, movement, sound, prayer, or meditation, and let nothing distract us from practicing those habits on a daily basis.
We Surround Ourselves with Friends Who Build Us Up
Wise Women who form my inner circle are all ladies who have been in the trenches with me. They have built me up (instead of tearing me down) and lovingly administered tough love when it was needed. In the absence of my family of origin, they are my family, and they will always have my back. And I will always have theirs.
We Have No Time or Patience for Hate
Hate is like a disease that can spread quickly and sicken our bodies and souls. Hate, meanness, resentment, and pettiness are things that Wise Women have zero tolerance for because we know they rob us of precious time and happiness. Being angry and resentful serves no purpose and is very much like smashing our toe with a rock and expecting someone else to feel the pain.
This doesn’t mean we don’t get pissed, disgusted, or annoyed. It simply means we don’t let those feelings take root in our hearts and establish a long-term presence. We feel the feels, acknowledge them, and let them go.
