HOW STRONG ARE YOU? Copyrighted Denise M. Michaels
There’s a quote you may have heard before, originally said by First
in the water I hear it. Maybe they want everyone to know it. Most-
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt:
ly I think it’s a visceral, masculine response after doing something hard and then letting go.
“A good woman is like a teabag You never know how strong she is until you get her in hot water.”
The women, never groan, huff or puff. They go through the class and endure exactly the same hour of “torture.” They do the same
I’m reminded of that quote on days when I need to be
amount of movement, resistance and everything else. They might
strong. Sometimes I think about it when I remember how much I
“Whooo-hoo!” once in awhile or sing along with a song they like
enjoy a big latte cup of tea and almond milk to start my day. When
on the speaker system but there’s no verbal, open demonstration
I travel I bring my English Breakfast teabags and find a market
of brute strength.
where I can pick up almond milk. No sugar please. Men are excellent at the explosive power necessary when it comes
Strength shows up differently in different people. In some people it
to tackling the guy on the other team, self-defense that
doesn’t show on the outside at all. Their strength is bottled on the
springs from a gut place of “It’s him or me,” or running into
inside. Like ten pounds in a five pound sack. Just because you
a burning building to save a little girl.
can’t see a demonstration of brute power and domination doesn’t mean strength is lacking. Yes, there’s strength in brute horsepow-
Women are good at the long range endurance necessary over the
er. There’s also strength in the willingness to have tenacity, perse-
long haul. This isn’t scientific, but as a gender I think women are
verance and see things through over the long haul.
more patient. I don’t think men could endure a 28-hour labor and childbirth. Men might be amazed how much strength it sometimes
On Saturday morning and Tuesday evening I go to a class at the
takes to hold your tongue and not say a word.
gym in the big pool. Like most gym classes the members who participate are mostly women but there are a few men as well. I’m
Being able to perform Herculean feats like lifting massive weights
not sure why, but the men in class seem to grunt and groan with
shows physical strength. However, the real power required of suc-
regularity. When they push a weight or do three sets of crunches
cessful entrepreneurs is seen in human tests and non-
