Christine de Pizan, Challenges, Choices

from Collected Works of Christine de Pizan

 Maybe I just missed something but I'd venture to say that I'm not the only one who didn't learn about Christine de Pizan in history class.  I found her by accident while searching for something else. 
So, who was she? One of the earliest feminists, authors, poetesses, and single working mothers.  Being born to a prominent family in 1363 Italy gave her advantages that only partially helped with the challenges she faced in her life.  Check out Christine de Pizan  to learn about her. 
What interested me was that she didn't actually set out to do the things she did. She enjoyed learning and went along with her father's teachings.   She was in love with her husband.  She didn't plan on both men dying and thrusting her into a man's role at a time when women were little more than possessions.  She had to support herself and her family while trying to console her grief through writing.  As she met the challenges, she learned of injustices towards women and spoke out against them.  This lead to success in a world where women weren't welcomed with open arms.  She never remarried, as most women would at that time. Was it because she couldn't replace her lost love or just had too many other things to do?  I don't know.  Amazing, too, that she lived to be 96 years old--in the 1300s. She lived out the courage of her convictions in a big way. 
It was more than coincidence that I came upon Christine's challenging career choices.  I needed some encouragement.  In work and personal life I'm facing challenges.  It seems the more I take a proactive, positive stance, the more I'm met with resistance.  I've questioned myself more than once, as I imagine Christine did, but I've never been the one to take the common road and I certainly don't want to live against my convictions.
The problems aren't any easier in the 21st century than they were in the 14th, but if she can live to 96 years old after being a successful writer and single woman in the 1300's, then I'm encouraged to be up to my task in 2013.  I don't delude myself into thinking the challenges will be easy, but nothing worth having is attained without cost.
What challenges do you face?  What choices do you have to make in order to meet the challenge?  Who do you look to for encouragement? 
If you don't feel up to the task and start to question yourself,  do you give up or fake it until your confidence returns?   

Ok, I can't get by without saying my favorite C word:  Coffee. 

Tag--You're It!

Somebody has to be It...

A few weeks ago a friend and I were talking about how hard it is to find the right person.  I was talking about the kind of guys I like and using famous men as examples.  She said "yeah, like we have a chance with them." 
That statement's been bugging me since she said it because my response was "why not?" 
I mean, seriously, why not?
Somebody has to do it. 
What do the women who date them have that I don't?  Only proximity.  Their advantage is they are in a place where they can get to know these guys. My chosen career path doesn't put me in the same circles.  But if it did I'd have the same chance as they do.  I'm certainly not saying I'm better than them or that I'd even really want to date one of them.   What's to say they're even good enough for me? 
What I am saying is we all have something important to offer.  We're all good enough. 
My friend was selling herself short.  It's a common thing we do and I'm not sure why.  Where's the rule book that tells who the privileged people are and who gets to date them? 
It's not just in relationships.  What about careers?  Why does one have more prestige than another? I can say from personal experience that, while I love to watch a goalie make an awesome save, right now the most important person to me is the guy who knows how to get my truck running again. 
What about appearances?  Who says super skinny is sexy? Who says paying three times as much for something that only covers a tenth of my body is even smart, let alone fashionable? 
Why is a person good enough to entrust with kids' educations but not good enough for  someone who won an Academy Award? 
Who makes these crazy rules? 
 I'm not terribly impressed with merely being famous.  It's not in what you do but how you do it.  Give me integrity, courage, and confidence any day. 
Don't settle for less than the best.  Don't let others try to impose rules that limit you.
Somebody has to write the next best seller.  Somebody has to make the next birdie. And somebody has to date those who do these things.
Why not me? Why not you? 

Tag.  You're it!

My Magic Mike Experience

photo from www.poptower.com

A few of my girlfriends and I went to see Magic Mike. Of course they were all oooh, Matthew McConaughey  or Channing Tatum.  Yeah, whatever.  Matt Bomer's who I wanted to see. 
We're going to the cashier to get our tickets, still debating on the whole going to see strippers dilemma.  On the one hand, it's strippers. On the other, it's the prospect of Matt Bomer in a G-string.
Seeing the little old ladies with their walkers going in makes me waiver a bit, though. 
I'm the first in line and I ask "are we going to do this?"
The answer is "you decide and we'll see what you see."
Thanks.  Put it all on me.  Then I get blamed for their guilt at paying ten bucks for strippers.  
Did I mention piercing blue eyes, perfectly smooth skin, silky raven tresses...?
So, I'm opening my mouth to say "Yes, I want to be the bad girl.  I want to yell and scream 'Take it all off, Mattie!"
What comes out is "One for Spiderman, please."
That got a big laugh and I'm still being mocked a week later.  I'm a prude, a good girl, chicken--all sorts of names.  And I don't mind. 
You see, the choice is still mine.  I can always go see it.  Or I could continue to let the Holy Spirit guide me. I mean, do they really think it was me that chose a man in tights over Matt Bomer in much less? 
Once you do something, you can't take it back.  I can't take back that I chose Superhero over Stripper.  The question is, Do I want to?
Two of the girls went and saw Magic Mike later and reported back that we didn't miss anything.  It was all porn, no plot.  It takes a lot of faith to trust they're right. 
Because, did I mention Matt Bomer?