I have a friend who is going through a difficult time right now.
Like many of us, she is stuck between the rock and the hard place that is sometimes midlife. She juggles a demanding job, demanding teenagers and demanding in-laws. And she does it all with nary a complaint.
But lately, her brown eyes have lost some of their sparkle. The demands have escalated and she is frustrated, angry even. But mostly she is frustrated with herself for not having the “grace” to deal with it all…well, more gracefully. Her words.
Sound familiar? As females, we’ve been both the victim and the perpetrator of the “perfect woman” myth. It’s the one that purports that “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never forget to let him know he’s a man.”
Sounds good in a “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar” kind of way. Until we gauge our pressure meters and realize we’re about to blow. Because let’s face it, most women do the heavy lifting when it comes to the caretaking of a family. Add on work pressures, menopause, aging parents, kids flying the nest…and it’s enough to make any woman blow a fuse.
But what do we women often do when we find ourselves at the breaking point?
We apologize for not being able to handle it all. Instead of asking for help. Or, we pretend we can handle it all. That is until we break down. Or, we beat ourselves up for feeling frustrated, angry, anxious. And for not handling the situation with more grace.
I’m not an expert on grace, but I’ve been reflecting on the subject a lot lately. By its very nature, the word grace implies ease. But, grace is not always a cake walk.
Continue reading this post on Lisa Froman’s blog, Tao Flashes
Lisa Garon Froman
Lisa Froman is a writer, poet and communications professional based in Baton Rouge, La. Lisa has worked for nearly 30 years in the communications industry, primarily in advertising and corporate communications. She is the author of Tao Flashes, A Woman's Way to Navigating the Midlife Journey with Integrity, Harmony and Grace. It's an inspirational book loosely modeled on the teachings and wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese classic written more than 2,500 years ago. Lisa took the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching and interpreted it from the viewpoint of a midlife woman to create an inspirational book filled with reflections on authenticity, integrity and grace, and affirmations to support midlife women. Her blog, Tao Flashes, focuses on spiritual and inspirational topics and people.
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