I searched for a woman to admire—
someone strong
who had been
in the fight for her life,
who had been
defeated and left for dead,
who had been
counted out, dismissed, then vilified,
who had been
discouraged, insecure, and lost
but then found
her way,
regained her footing,
strengthened her posture,
emboldened her stance,
and vowed
she would never again
take shit from anyone—
who had become
strong by sheer will and tenacity,
who had become
secure through trial and error,
who had become
wise from experience,
who had become
an impenetrable soul
of integrity and honor,
who had become
victorious,
but then I realized
the woman I was searching for
was me
July 1, 2013
