The Strength of a Woman, Part One

"A woman is like a teabag; you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." -Nancy Reagan

How do you define the strength and character of a woman?

I thought you girls would like this poem I stumbled across yesterday through Cultivate Her, a leadership environment where women are inspired, challenged and encouraged.

A strong woman works out every day

to keep her body in shape

but a woman of strength looks deep inside

to keep her soul in shape

A strong woman isn’t afraid

of anything

but a woman of strength shows courage

in the midst of her fear

A strong woman won’t let anyone

get the best of her

but a woman of strength gives the best

of her to everyone

A strong woman makes mistakes

and avoids the same in the future

but a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes

can also be blessings and capitalizes on them

A strong woman walks

sure footedly

but a woman of strength knows

when to ask for help

A strong woman wears the look

of confidence on her face

but a woman of strength

wears grace

A strong woman has faith

that she is strong enough for the journey

but a woman of strength has faith

that it is in the journey that she will become strong

~unknown author

Questions: How do you measure the strength of a woman?