Phenomenal
                 Woman

By, Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion size
But when  I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.

I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say
It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

         mirrorred reflections


fascinating images....vanity....sadness....

obsession of the outside
will deteriorate what counts....
what's within....


Reflections in the mirror
                         mask
          ...what's within.
Faces are masks.
                 Bodies are costumes.
THEY CAN BE CHANGED AND ALTERED DEPENDING ON HOW A PERSON FEELS FROM WITHIN..............................


(c) Dreaming Angel 2000

Perceptions in the Mirror

Why is it that women, young and old, spend so much time judging themselves and others based on how they look?

We poke and prod, starve and indulge, tease and comb, and paint and plaster ourselves with all types of stuff in our obsession to be beautiful. We are obsessed with our reflection in the mirror.

But no matter what we do, we feel that we are never pretty enough - that we're too fat, too skinny, not blonde enough, too short... the list goes on.

And we envy all those other women around us who seem so much more prettier - when in fact they are probably as insecure as us! Those 'other' women are thought of as competition, the person who teases us about what we don't and can't have.

Do these thoughts seem familiar?

The truth is, we can't really change how we look, but we can change our perceptions of what we think is beautiful. True beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Once we start to drop our perceptions of what should be good looking on the outside, and even the thought that looks are all that counts, we start to see a person for who they really are. And we start to see true beauty.

So instead of judging someone by their looks, look deeper and see their personality, who they are, the qualities that make them uniquely individual. Sure, there's no problem with wanting to look good, but you shouldn't be obsessed. You should see yourself as beautiful no matter what you have.

We should revel in our uniqueness - be proud of who we are! We women should see each other not as competition, but as a universal sisterhood!

See the true beauty in yourself

Start by looking in the mirror at yourself and list all your good traits - list at least one for every letter of the alphabet. Don't feel that others will think you stupid - they don't have to know! This is self empowering, and will make you smile and laugh! Another good way to lift your confidence is to see yourself as the Phenomenal Woman in the poem. Read it to yourself several times during the day when you feel low in confidence - 'cause it will definitely give you a boost! Share it with other women too. Also check out other empowering websites for women.

Celebrate who you are - unique and beautiful!

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