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I'm rarely serious here. But today, I want to talk about my hero. And no, this hero doesn't make life changing speeches, this hero hasn't won Olympic medals, this hero hasn't gone into burning building to save lives. But this hero has changed my life. This hero has the determination of an Olympic athelete. And this hero has saved a life - her own, as had inspired me to make my own better. I'm talking about my mom. Regular readers may remember that months ago, I had discussed how my mother's cancer had returned. She had it about 4 years ago, but had gone into remission. But this year we had found that it had spread. She's been doing chemotherapy, taking more pills and medication than I can count, and once again, the hair has fallen out. But rather than give up and be beaten, she's been fighting it with every ounce of her self, and has tried to keep herself in good spirits. She has stayed strong, where many other people would have given up. It's inspired me to see her be so strong - growing up, you usually don't see this strength in your parents, you usually wave them away with a toss of your hand. But I see a strength in her that I haven't seen before. Now I'm not close to my mom like other people are, we don't have late night talks, I've never discussed a boyfriend with her, if we go shopping, I meet her at an appointed time, and she has yet to pick out an outfit that I would be caught in public in...but I admire her. And I try to show my love for her with hugs and kisses, that's the only thing I know how to do. But somehow, I know it's enough.
So when you're thinking about how sucky your life is, how pitiful it is, remember that you can always fight the adversity you meet in life. Rather than wallowing in your misery, overcome it. Don't complain about the things in your life that you can change, or that you can change your outlook on.
So I dedicate this poem by Maya Angelou to my mom, my phenomenal woman.
"Phenomenal Woman"
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's 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 step,
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 down 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 in 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 of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
