Perhaps is because I was raised in a household under a strong woman. My mom, who is a native Texan, was once publicly nicknamed "The Mouth from the South", a label that I have always proudly thought of as a fabulous compliment. Now that I'm an adult, I am becoming increasingly aware of how much influence my assertive mother has had on the woman I've become.
I have learned that it's important to stand up for yourself. You need to be your own champion. In the end, I believe that people will respect you more for speaking your mind and advocating for what you believe to be right and true. Sure, not everyone is going to agree with you and you probably will step on some toes along the way, but at least you'll be sure of your integrity as an honest, free-thinking individual. You have opinions, thoughts and feelings-- they are worth hearing. You have a voice-- you are supposed to use it.
As I am growing older, I'm learning how to use that voice more effectively. The hot-headedness of my youth is still there, no doubt, but I'm figuring out how to temper it with patience, professionalism, and intelligent (as opposed to impulsive) argument. I'm nowhere near perfect, but I'm getting much better at asserting myself in a more judicious and savvy manner. And I think the ability to speak your mind in an intelligent and firm way makes your argument, whatever it is, even more compelling.
So when I see behavior or practices that I find unprofessional, inappropriate or unfair (at work), or unkind, hypocritical or hurtful (in life), I don't hesitate to speak up. You can call me a whistleblower or a bitch, you can accuse me of being sassy or bold or overconfident. I really don't care. I will take all of those labels as a fabulous compliment because I know that I am using the voice that I have a right to express, the voice that I am intelligent and confident enough to share, the voice that my mother taught me to use. Not for anyone else, but for myself. I think THIS is what it means to be a real woman.
So Happy Mother's Day to my mom, "The Mouth from the South" herself, who didn't just teach her daughters the importance of using their brains, but also the significance of being a little mouthy! Thanks mom!
