The 8 Simple Seasons of the Midwest

My whole life I've had a love/hate relationship with the midwest. Growing up in Minnesota then moving to Wisconsin for school, I've experienced just about all the midwest has to offer (at least in my opinion). From unreasonably hot summers to freezing cold winters, living through extreme temperatures has always been quite the 'treat'. However in my 19 short years of life, I've realized how irrational those of us who live in the midwest truly are.
Here's the cycle of Irrationality:
8 seasons, instead of 4.

Let's start with Fall.
Fall for those of us in the midwest is not truly fall, it's a short lived season of temperatures ranging from 50-30 degrees, when mother nature mentally prepares us for winter. Fall typically starts in late september, ending before halloween. So realistically, fall is only a month around here. However, women will seize every last second of fall, tweeting about their love for 'fall fashion', hitting up apple orchards, and overwear every vest they own.

After fall comes Pre-Winter.
This is the time around halloween when everyone begins to complain about the cold. It's typically about 30-20 degrees outside and theres no snow, simply frigid cold and depressing cloudy weather. Girls buy scantily clad halloween costumes and try to deny that they're going to freeze their asses off in them, denying that winter is coming. In Pre-Winter our bodies also start to adjust to temperatures, 40 begins to seem semi warm to a lot of us.

Then comes Winter Wonderland.
Winter Wonderland is an interesting time. Temperatures have dropped remarkably, sometimes even to below zero. BUT the minute the first snow flake falls, suddenly the hate for the cold has subsided and day dreaming of a 'white christmas', kicks in. This short period of time leading up to christmas is what I like to call the 'glory days' of winter, where everything seems merry and we all are happy to live in a state where it snows.

Then the REAL Winter begins.
The minute the holiday season ends, our mind switches to believing we are living in our own personal hell. Temperatures are below freezing as before, but since the holiday spirit is over, suddenly everything is just the WORST. Snow is no longer beautiful to us and we all begin to have an undying hate for it, complaining every time a flake falls. What's interesting about this time is that it really is the same weather as Winter Wonderland, minus Santa and the pretty lights, so we all hate it.

Then comes the season of The Clinger.
Similar to a clingy girlfriend, winter begins to cling on to the midwest far into march. Temperatures will rise to as high as 30 degrees and drop to as low as -45 degrees throughout a single week. It may be March, but you wouldn't be able to tell without a calendar as the wether remains the same as December or January.

By April, Pre-Spring Frustration starts.
Snow has started to melt in the midwest, however, our hatred sticks around. Towns start to look dirty and beat up, as snow melts and exposes Pre-Winters grime and filth that our little 'Winter Woderland' had covered up.

Hopefully by May, it's Spring.
Temperatures by May are hopefully up to 50 degrees and everyone inevitably begins breaking out the summer gear. Clothing fit for a day at the beach is worn around puddles of melted snow, and suddenly 50 degrees is feeling 'hot'. This joy about beautiful temperatures will last about a month, before mother nature slaps us in the face again.

Mother Nature's Idea of Hell, starts in June.
A few weeks into June, the real fun begins. Temperatures will range from 60 degrees all the way up to 105 degrees. Everyone begins to regret letting go of winter and the complaints begin yet again. From being one of the coldest areas of the country, the midwest jumps to being one of the hottest, sending midwesterners bodies haywire.

By September, the cycle begins over again. Same attitudes year after year. Nothing is ever good enough for us in the Midwest. If I've learned anything, we're rarely pleased by much, other than those few short months we're walking in a Winter Wonderland.

But even though us midwesterners have so much hate for the weather at times, I personally, wouldn't have it any other way.

Sincerely,
Laughing at life's irony.

The consequences of my Late Night Reflections (Caution: Controversial Content)

I read, or struggled though a few paragraphs, today of an article by a younger woman. I say I struggled, because it truly was painful to read. The piece didn't have outstanding grammatical errors that I couldn't stand (I'm no grammar police), nor was it typed like Di$$. It was truly the content, the message, that I struggled to grasp and really choked on.

You can find the article here: http://bemalleable.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/sincerely-one-of-many-girls-who-care/
Though in all honesty, I didn't finish it. I'm just commenting on the overall opening concept of this piece.

Now I'm typically not one to bash others opinions, or really give a hoot about what people of religion or people with no religion are preaching about, but this set me off past my beliefs on religion. This brought out my feminist/feministic side. (Not that I would define myself as an extreme feminist by any means, however I think as a woman, it's important to be slightly feminist. Seeing as well, I am a female and I'm just as good as any man out there. Maybe not at building stuff, but you get my point.) 

Anyways, this article is an apology. And in short, it's an apology for women's existence. Now I'm not saying the author specifically states, I'm sorry for women and their existence.. but she comes pretty damn close. 

"I’m sorry that you see hundreds of advertisements every week showing half-dressed women. I’m sorry every time you go to the beach or your neighborhood pool you can’t look in any direction without seeing a girl basically in her underwear. Or that you can’t scroll through Instagram on “women crush wednesdays” or any day for that matter without an airbrushed girl in a thong staring you down. Or that your buddy showed you that one magazine when you were 9 and you’ve never forgotten that moment because that was the first time you first saw a completely naked woman. When I think about the guys in my life who are striving to live with a pure and Godly mindset, it honestly breaks my heart that they’re surrounded with so much temptation."

Now many people may not take this as an insult (though you people may want to stop reading right here), but I did, and i'll tell you why. As women, I don't think we should be pointed at as the cause for mens un-godly mindsets, or basically blamed for all males sexual drive. That to me, is ridiculous. You see, when I read this I saw what she was trying to get at. She is very sorry that there is so much sexual advertisement all over the place. However, what get's me is she isn't putting it that way, she's saying it as if it is our fault as women for letting all of this take place. 

Which in some ways, it is our fault. Women do pose half-dressed, however, the female body is beautiful and media wants to perpetuate and thrive off of that. (Given the way in which advertisements perpetuate women should look and what is beautiful, and all the wrong doings there, is a whole new argument). What she's saying is "I'm sorry men, that you have eyes and can see beautiful women all over the place, and are attracted." Or the swimsuits argument, really?? .. I don't even want to go there. Then she bashes women crush wednesday, which really blows my mind, because now she's pointing fault to all those who post photos of women they find beautiful on any given wednesday and she stereotypes that all these women posted are airbrushed in thongs. (My guy friend women crush wednesday'd me one time.. a nice picture of us two. I was not airbrushed, nor in a thong, and I personally took it as a compliment.)

I could get into more about what she said but I'll move on to my next point. 

Why's no one apologizing to us women? I'd like to see the apology edited to be like this:

"Women, I'm sorry you see hundreds of shirtless men who are half-dressed on TV and in advertisements every day. I'm sorry every time you go to the beach or pool you can't look in any direction without seeing a man in simply swim trunks, just showing off his chest to the world. Or that you can't scroll through instagram on man crush monday without seeing an airbrushed man in a thong, or nothing at all, for that matter.. blah blah... It honestly breaks my heart that women are surrounded by so much temptation." 

.. That's what I would have liked to see a women write to her fellow women, an apology for how hard it is to be a female surrounded by temptation (because that's something a female could relate to another about. Though that would have still annoyed me because it's blatantly passing judgement on the opposite sex for dressing a way the author does not approve of), This letter would have seemed more 'right' and 'just'. Not a woman apologizing to men, who are driven by sexual desire, for her fellow women who decide to not live as modest a lifestyle as she may. Theres so much slut-shaming here I can't handle it. 

And I'm not justifying anything that she claims women are doing that 'tempts' men. I'm just saying that not only is it wrong to blame women for males sexual desire, It's wrong for her to be perpetuating her beliefs in such a way. To take it to extremes, it'd be similar to her writing "Dear man, I am sorry that woman tempted you so much that you had to rape her. She was dressed in such a way, that I can see how you couldn't resist, I really am sorry women tempt you so much like that. Sincerely, female." 

And see, that seems crazy. 

If you are a female, in this really tough world, where it's already hard enough to have self esteem.. why would you make women feel like crap by turning on them and apologizing to the opposite sex for them. As if your fellow women's actions and the way they chose to live their lives or present themselves is cruel to men. 

Why don't you just go make him a sandwich while you're at it? Because it seems we've fallen back to the happy homemaker times, where women were expected to simply support men, and not have a say themselves. 

In the end I guess what I'm trying to say is plain and simple; thanks, but no thanks. 

Don't go apologizing for me, I'm not sorry. 

Women have the right to do whatever they please, I may not agree with all of it either, but it's not your job or anyone else's job for that matter to apologize for them. Men are just as at fault as women are and there is no reason to treat men like the victims. Grown men with sexual desires, don't need to be treated like children. 

Nor is it right for you to judge women. You don't see anyone apologizing for women who are modest, because it's simply wrong. 

If you find what this woman said okay, that is just fine. You have a right to your opinion (as do I, hence why I'm posting mine here in this blog) and I respect that. However, keep it to yourself. Because I may not know the bible word for word, cover to cover, or understand everything. But one thing I do know, is that passing judgement upon others is frowned upon. 

And even if it weren't stated in the bible, it's wrong no matter what. Because the only person who should be allowed to pass judgement on you, is yourself. (Maybe your mother too, depends, she did have to work her ass off for 9 months so you could even happen.)

Anyways, I'm sick of societies judgement making people feel like their doing something wrong, simply because society says so. Whatever I do in my life, I get to judge myself for. If I want to feel bad about something I've done, I reserve the right to make myself feel bad and judge myself. No one else, plain and simple. 

Sincerely, 

Feeling very controversial tonight and laughing at myself because I reserve the right to. 

5 Ways to Stay Sane

Lately I've come to realize that in this changing world, it's really hard to keep a grasp on reality and our sanity. Theres new problems arising everyday for all of us. Sometimes, It's really hard to keep your feet on the ground and hang in there. Especially with the excruciating expectations put on all of us everyday. 

Sometimes we forget how beautiful and amazing we are and how beautiful our lives truly are. 

So I thought I'd give you all a few wise words to remind you just how beautiful YOU are. 

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful 

#1.

So often in our lives, we let others opinions or comments control how we feel about ourselves. Trying to live up to other peoples expectations will leave you feeling like a failure. Always remember to walk away from anything or anyone who takes away from your joy. That's yours. Life is far too short to put up with people who waste your time and make you miserable. 

#2.

This ones a big one and a huge challenge for everyone, even myself. Our media today has created an image of beauty that is nearly unattainable, and to be honest, wrong. Beauty can't be defined by anyone but yourself. Be confident in who you are, because EVERYONE is beautiful in their own way. It's foolish to try to be like everyone else, be different, be who you truly want to be. 

#3. 

This nike slogan is saying a lot more than 'buy a pair of nikes'. This slogan can be applied to all aspects of life. If you want to be happy, then do what you want. Even if someone says you can't. You're capable of anything you put your mind to. Don't let simple minded people who are afraid to do something themselves, hinder you. If you want it, go get it. You are the only one in your way.

#4.

I personally love this one. When people leave our lives, wether it be due to a breakup or a relationship, a friendship, or anything else, it's important we realize that life goes on. At first it may seem like the end of the world. But it's not. The pain is temporary and everything will eventually work itself out. Don't ever say you can't live without someone. You came into this world alone and you are strong enough to make it on your own and find happiness again.

#5. 

And finally, the most important advice of all. Which should be preached over and over again. Never forget who you are. Don't let anyone change you, bring you down, or make you feel inferior. You are your own person, you were created to be unique. Never destroy that by trying to fit in.

Why would you want to follow the crowd, when you could take your own path walking alone.

Heres laughing at those who try to fit in,

when they're born to stand out.

Sincerely, 

Laughing At Life

Why I Write

It's 1:20 am, so it's really no surprise I'm up writing.
I need a release. A moment to myself, to collect my thoughts.
And as I sit here, scrolling through pinterest's 'quotes' section, I've stumbled upon a quote I thought i'd share. It really struck me the second I read it.


"I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say."
-Flannery O'Connor


Lately, I've been jumping between majors in college, trying to decide what I want to do. I've discovered a love for english and writing, unlike any other. However, I've really struggled to understand if it's for me or what I can truly do with it in my life.

I meet people who hate writing college essays every day, just absolutely dread the thought of them. However I find myself getting lost in them. Papers are almost calming for me. Essays give me a chance to explain my reasoning, my thoughts, my feelings in my own way as if to change the mind of the professor or whoever may be reading it. As if to plead my case. To explain why I feel, this is right.
Coloring in a bubble could never do that for me.
Selecting true or false, has never been something i've enjoyed.
Exams, quizzes, anything with an A,B,C,D .. true or false answer, makes me feel trapped.
You are either right, or you are wrong, and that's it.
I've always hard a hard time with exams of this format. Because I second guess myself.
I circle one answer, but in my mind, I debate another.
I can't lay out my thoughts.

But not when it comes to writing. I waste no time questioning myself.. is this right.. is this wrong. I just end up with a product that depicts my thoughts clearly, because I translated them from my mind somehow on to this paper, and now it all is making sense to me and coming together. I can lay out my thoughts, look them over, revise them. I can grasp a understanding of what i'm thinking. And from there, I can answer a question with a product I'm proud of and believe in. I didn't have to chose some answer formulated by an examiner that may or may not make complete sense to me.
I'm formulating my answer, let me explain it to you.
I'm allowing the professor, reader, whoever to step into my mind for a second.
And that's really an astonishing thing to be able to do, to allow someone to get a glimpse of how you are envisioning things.

And this translates into my life when it comes to even writing things like this. Until about 17 minutes ago when I started writing this, I didn't know it would go this route. I didn't know why I enjoyed essays so much, but a quote set my mind going, and now thoughts are flowing out.

Give me a computer, give me a paper and a pencil, give me a chance, I'll let you see my mind. That's truly what writing is. An insight into the authors mind. Hell, and insight into my own mind.

I have a million thoughts a day, but until I put it into words on a computer, I don't realize what I really think. I don't realize what I really feel. Even speaking aloud, I get all jumbled up. There's things I don't want to say, things I can't vocalize, the fear of looking stupid. For me, speaking my feelings aloud just doesn't do me justice. But writing, allows me to hide, while also stepping out of the shadows. It's a strange concept, that might not make sense, but that's how I see it. Like I said, a glimpse into my mind.

But, maybe you're like me, thoughts flowing like crazy in your mind, but you just can't keep up. So many things you just don't know how to even say. I encourage you to try writing. You might write complete nonsense that jumps from thought to thought with no clear meaning. But hell, at least the thoughts are there written out for you, not simply floating around up there.

Because let me tell you, until 1:20 am tonight, I had no clue why I struggled so much with exams and loved essays so much. I didn't realize why things just made more sense when writing. But the minute I sat myself down and started to think about it, started to formulate these sentences, I started to figure it out.


Writing lets you explain yourself.
Writing lets you know how you feel.
You just don't know it until you start.



Sincerely,
Writing and Laughing away

As always.

College: Deciding Your Fate at Nineteen

Does anyone remember those 'Choose your own fate' books that were big in elementary schools across the country in the 90's? You'd be reading the book when suddenly you'd flip the page, typically during a climatic point, and suddenly the moment of truth had come. You'd have to choose either option one or two and then the new route of the story you selected would pick back up on a different page. By the end of the story, you had gone on this this completely fucked up path to get there and were typically left wondering what the other story end could have been. Some I'm sure even actually went back and tried to retrace their steps to the other ending.

I hated those books.

A story is a story because the author made it that way. Don't go stressing me out with all these possible choices, just tell me the fucking story you wanted to write.
I blame those books on indecisive authors who just couldn't choose between two novel endings, so they just said fuck it and made a novel in which readers make the choice for them. Lazy.

And lately, these 'Choose your own fate' novels are reminding me a lot of my college experience/life. However if I am not happy with the ending I get to.. I'm shit out of luck.

When it comes to choosing the end of my story, the stakes are a lot higher.
Currently, I am in my second year of college. I did a year as one major, switched to possibly doing another, to now heading back to pursue a completely different major. My college experience is one big turned around 'Choose your own fate' book. Except the only catch here is, the more time I spend changing my mind and choosing other directions, the more money and time it costs me. And it's incredibly stressful. When it comes to college all you've got at stake is your future, no pressure. I mean, your major is only what you're going to have a degree to do for the rest of your life.

The truth about it all is the minute we graduate high school our futures are handed to us like a ball of clay, and everyone expects us to make a pot, with no experience at all. They aren't even handing us a potting wheel.
(Okay I've taken this potting metaphor too far.)

But it really is true. At eighteen you are sent off and expected to figure it all out, and you've really got all the time in the world, if you can afford to hang around for that long.
Here I find myself a year and a half into college, still in my fucking teens, and people are telling me it's about time I declare a major. I can't even drink, rent a car, or book a hotel room; but i'm allowed, hell encouraged, to tell decide what i'm going to be doing for the rest of my life?!

Please. That has to be a joke.

I found myself realizing this all when I was emailing my old english teacher tonight, asking for advice when it came to my major. It all just sort of hit me, we really are deciding our fates here in college and when you come to realize that it just becomes that much harder. Because to be honest? My favorite color changes like the weather, I can't even commit to cruise control when driving, and really I'm always looking for the next best thing. How am I supposed to trust that what I love and want to do for the rest of my life one day, won't change the next?

But as of today I came to a simple realization I should have ages ago. If I truly love something, then my feelings won't change. When it comes to college, your major, and overall your future? Honestly, just hang on to what you love. Even if society is telling you it's unrealistic or it might not make you rich, you love it and it makes you happy. That will always be enough. Don't fall into the trap of following anyone else's dreams, but your own. You don't need to be 50 years old with years of life experience to decide your future, you just need to love something enough to know it's right. Once you find that one thing you love, all the pieces will come together.
And if you don't know what you love yet? Well your 'choose your own fate' novel just has a few more crossroads, so keep going and choose wisely.
Eventually your story will lead you to the ending the author intended.

Sincerely,
Laughing at those dumb 'choose your own fate' novels.

Time to pick apart mainstream music

If you are a fan of Kanye West, you will really hate this post. 

Also, if you take offense to people disliking your favorite artists, just stop reading because I'm going to go off a little bit. 

This is nothing like my other posts, but I just feel like sharing some of my insight.

I swear i'll go back to inspirational crap after this. 

Today I was checking out iTunes, which I rarely do, because I am a huge fan of Spotify and tend to reside there for music. 

As I was looking over the new mainstream music and whats popular now, I picked out a few key things I found comical while also being disappointing. 

For starters, 

Why are we putting hashtags in song titles. 

Examples,

• #beautiful by Mariah Carey 
• #thatpower by will.i.am 

note: will.i.am took it even further as to make the album title #thatpower 

I don't know how many times people need to be reminded but hashtags are for TWITTER and TWITTER only. Why are we utilizing them outside of the realm they were created in? 

You don't use a condom for anything but sex.

So don't use a hashtag for anything but twitter, it's just fucking strange.

Alright, Second issue I spotted 

'We can't stop' by Miley Cyrus is the second most popular song on itunes. 

Look, I understand people all have different tastes in music, and I'm sure mine isn't typical either, but really guys, you like that crap?

Has anyone seen the music video, it's some Lady Gaga shit. 

Like the hashtag thing, leave weird shit up to Lady Gaga, that's her thing. 

This is similar to when 'Gangnam Style' was the top song on itunes. 

Sure the song is catchy, but holy shit did america eat that shit up, without even knowing what the lyrics meant. You probably sang along with the song, speaking a completely different language, and you had NO clue what you were saying. 

That's not weird to anyone else? That the top song in our country, practically no one could understand, and everyone sang along with the lyrics. 

That shit is weird people. 

Lastly, and probably which bugs me the most, Kanye West 

This guys new album is entitled 'Yeezus'.. 

First of all, what the fuck does that even mean?

And the what the fuck continues as you check out the song titles, 'Black Skinhead' 'New Slaves' 'I Am A God' .. like seriously what the hell Kanye?

And this shit is popular. 

Like i'm sorry if you have a song entitled 'I Am A God', in which you say things like 'I Am A God, hurry up with my damn massage, get the porsche out the damn garage' ... like NO. just NO. 

Not to mention, this guy just had a child with Kim Kardashian. Things are already going south for the kid to begin with, being as his name is North West. Like, what is with the celebrities and the weird baby names, though thats a whole new problem. 

What kind of message is Kanye sending his kid when he has songs with lyrics like 'I'd rather be a dick than a swallower', like there ya go North West, that's some good life advice. 

Now I'm not saying Kanye hasn't had good music, he has. 

But what is happening to mainstream music right now? Like that shit is popular?

I could make a better album than Kanye, and I have vocal nodules and zero musical talent. 

Yet this man is still making millions off us, because this is what we are taught is 'cool'.

Songs like 'I Am A God' and 'New Slaves' are not cool, they are actually really fucked up concepts if you think about it. 

I don't mean to bash people when I am personally untalented, I'm more bashing their inability to create a product with meaning. 

And it's possible to get popular off meaningful music, Macklemore is doing it as we speak, being as he is one of the only artists on the top lists that I find respectable and enjoyable. 

But I just don't think that people who are creating really messed up/mind numbingly stupid music, should be making money. 

This is exactly whats wrong with mainstream music, you can make millions, if you pretty much bend over and take it from record companies and create what they say, or some weird shit (like we can't stop) just to get attention. 

When did attention grabbers become strange music videos and weird as shit lyrics, and not simply musical talent. 

Not all mainstream music sucks, I am seriously LAUGHING and some of the recent creations by artists. 

Sincerely, 

Laughing in awe of the stupidity 

Is Independence the key to being Forever Alone?

A few nights ago I went to get frozen yogurt with two friends of mine.
As we were eating our fake ice cream, we got to talking.

All of us being extremely independent women, got on the topic of relationships and our struggles with them, all causal talk until one of my friends said;

"Does the fact we're independent mean we're bound to be alone forever then?"

This statement began to make me think, is independence the key to being forever alone?

I mean hell, in our society today women are running the show just as much as men are, don't get me wrong. But does womens new found independence lead men to shy away?

Now i'm going to make men sound dumb for a second, so bear with me, and whether you agree or disagree hear me out.

Men like to feel wanted, to feel needed.
I say this from experience, I'm not a lesbian sitting here writing about the feelings of men.
But everyone wants to feel needed, so you can't argue I'm wrong. 

In the olden days, women stayed home while men went to work, provided for their families, and overall became the head of the home. Housewife material was looked for in women. But in todays society women are encouraged, no expected, to make a life for themselves. Women are just as capable as men in providing for themselves and a family. 

And if you ask me, I think this change is scary to men. 

Men aren't 'needed' as much as history may have portrayed them before.

Now I'm not saying men aren't needed or trying by any means to be an extreme feminist on the topic, but theres no denying men want to wear the pants in a relationship (or most men). So what does this mean for independent driven women who want more to life then simply a kitchen? Are we bound to end up with a man who plays stay at home dad? Or are we simply bound to be alone?

Is it possible to share the pants in a relationship?

I'm not quite sure.
Because the way I look at it, it's very nice that men would like to do things for me.. but i'd prefer to get things done myself. I will never be a woman who sits at home all day waiting for their husband to come home from work. I just could not imagine my life revolving around my husband.
That's not to say I wouldn't love my husband to death and devote my life to him, it simply means I would like to create a life for myself outside of our marriage as well, rather than make his life my own. And I think it's becoming increasingly hard for independent women to find men in these changing times. Even when I'm just getting to know guys I get scolded on not letting them do things for me.

Here's some things I seem to do 'wrong':

For starters, It's adorable that you can open my car door and want too. But when I do it for myself, don't get discouraged. I've got arms and legs and am capable of opening my own door every once and awhile. Your puppy dog look is really making me feel awkward as I get out of the car.

I also enjoy alone time. I don't find the need to be around someone twenty four hours a day, I like to do things on my own. Don't scold me and tell me I don't seem interested, when I simply choose to not see you every single day.

Sure I love when you make me dinner. But I won't bow down and bless the ground you walk on over it, because to be honest the chicken is kind of dry and I know you put in a good effort but you're no Chef Ramsey.

I also apparently am wrong to not want to cook all the time. Which really blows my mind. I know in the olden days women ruled the kitchen, but if I'm cooking it's for both of us, not just because you want a sandwich. You need to be my idol to get a sandwich out of me.
Because I make great sandwiches.

But I'll end my rant.

The message of this is really unclear, I realize that. I'm not sure if independence is the key to being forever alone, I'm sure independent women will find men. But I think it just takes a little more searching.
All I'd like to say is, don't give up any of your independence because a man wants to feel needed or because it's a woman 'job'. We live in a world where women can do just as much as men, more than some even. Don't let old societal beliefs hold you back or let them determine what you yourself see as fitting.
If me and my friends came to one realization after this conversation, it was that no matter how hard it is to find a man who accepts our independence, we wouldn't change who we were at all.

I leave you with this.

"I want every little girl who's told she's bossy, to be told instead she has leadership skills." 

-Sheryl Sandberg

Strong, Independent women keep doing what you're doing, I commend you for it. 

Sincerely, 

Laughing at life- Independently