What it is to be a woman?

This is just my opinion, and I'm not an expert on woman's issues or gender studies or sociology.
But I know quite a lot about being a woman.

And while I cannot speak for all (or even most) women, I have always thought that it would be easier being a man. Yes, being a woman can have it's advantages but sometimes it is not all it is cracked up to be!
What are some of the reasons you would like to be what you are not?
I would like to be a man because:
1. I could be loud and opinionated and be called assertive instead of a bitch
2. It is still a man's world when it comes to the business world
3. Less worries about getting dressed, makeup etc....
4. I would like to be able to pee outside without worrying about peeing on my leg.
(Okay eliminate the 4th statement)

It is well understood that our sex is predetermined. Even before first beat of our hearts, our genes determine our tangible futures. We become men or women. And while we cannot control the outcome, we at least have the power to decide who we become as individuals.

We all know there isn’t a magic mold that makes up the ideal woman. We ladies cannot be cloned and it is obvious that the world would be a very boring and monotonous place to live in if we did. My women friends are not the least bit like me (probably a good thing). We each have our strengths and weaknesses. We compliment each other, not with words, but with our actions.

Being a woman does not mean we meet some qualifications on a checklist. It’s not a group of character traits or physical distinctions. It’s not a set of virtues or standards that we must live up to. What it is like to be a women? I can only speak to the universal experiences that we ladies share.

The most common and basic experience that we all know is fear. A woman who knows how to recognize and leverage fear to her advantage is the one who will succeed. Fear can either propel or repel us. If it’s not pushing us to do better, be better or improve ourselves in some way, then it could be repelling us away from the greatest and most fulfilling experiences of our lives. We must recognize the opportunities before us and push beyond the fear. Once we see that fear can be healthy and move us towards better opportunities and experiences, then we begin to learn who we are as individuals.

We must know who we are as women. If we cannot be who we were made to be then we have failed. Knowing who we are means we know our talents, our likes, our dislikes, our limits and our dreams. It also means that we can see ourselves completely outside of those limitations and dreams and recognize that anything is possible.

The word “can’t” serves only as a challenge to a woman. It is not a word that one can use to hold us back. Having recognized who we are and knowing that we can be whatever we choose, we can learn, we can train and we can overcome any challenge set before us. Simply put – we can.

Once we are comfortable with who we are and what we can do, we are not afraid to reinvent ourselves. This does not mean we put on a mask and hide. Reinvention is simply the art of stretching and growing into something stronger and even more beautiful.

It's not what I wear or how I do my hair, I'm convinced it's that I carry myself with confidence. I don't feel like I'm the all-around perfect catch, but I've been through enough to know I'm a great mother, a loving daughter, a good sister, an honest friend, a good wife and a great lover. You grow into the title of woman.

That's what it is to be a woman....

Manisha.