Knowing your strength

a group of young girls I was working with years ago got the chance to learn to row and sail a boat on a lake

it involved not only learning to tie knots that would keep the boat alongside when required - but all the other skills that one needs on the water for survival

part of the project was putting a fairly heavy wooden boat into the water, and when the day was done, pulling it out again and cleaning it in readiness for the next day

well, I am not sure what happens in your neck of the woods - but in my world I have found that if there is a gaggle of giggling girls, I have found it usual that there a bunch of giggling boys not far away ......

the girls were determined to do everything that was required so that they would become skilled on and off the water, and the boys were just as determined to show that they were the strong and clever ones ...and that THEY could get the boat out of the water faster and more efficiently - and in the process, look like heroes!

the girls took umbrage at this and insisted that the boys stand back and allow them to do the job, so that they could prove how strong and resilient and able girls are....

the girls won the day - the boys had to stand back and watch the girls struggle to get the boat up the slipway - did I mention that it is a big heavy wooden boat? 

the girls were asking later on, why it is that the boys see them as weak and useless. there was much discussion for a while. as you can imagine

the next day, as soon as it was 'on the water' time, the girls stood back and let the boys do the heavy work. when the boat had to be dragged up the slipway, the girls watched the boys proving how strong they are

it was a win win situation based on our discussion the night before. once the girls KNEW that they could do it, they could graciously stand back and watch the boys getting wet and dirty, looking like heroes ...

the girls had nothing to prove any more - they had shown clearly the day before that they could do the task..

they knew their strength

they knew their ability

they knew that the boys would want to keep proving to girls that they were the strong ones ....

but the girls knew better - they were getting the task done without lifting a finger!!!

strength and power .....they had it in spades!!!