Self Suficiency - Just do it

Subtitle: Just because my man is deployed, doesn't mean I'm helpless!

Soundtrack for this post: Miss Independent, Kelly Clarkson

I did something this morning that was a real challenge.

I helped my neighbour put up a new clothes line.

Now, this might not sound like a real challenge, but I am not overly fond of heights. And to reach the pulley for the far end of the clothes line, I had to go up to the almost top rung of an extension ladder, while it was leaning against the corner of an old barn. And then actually do stuff. Like take out the old line, and put the new line through. Which meant I couldn't cling to the ladder with a death grip, which is what I dearly wanted to do. The whole time I was doing this, I had an internal dialogue going with myself, telling myself I could do it, and I would do it, because there wasn't anyone else around to do it for me.

I am very proud of myself for accomplishing this.

But it got me thinking a bit about "who I am", and all that stuff. (Aside: The Wolf says I think too much)

I have spent a decent part of my life as a "single" woman, or sometimes living with men that were not really a lot of help with things that needed to be done. I was also always a bit of a tom-boy. My dad always made sure that both of his children (and my mom) could do things like change tires, ground electrical outlets, basic home and car repairs, etc. Couple these two facts, and you get a decently self-sufficient individual.

I think this is a trait that gets me a check in the "plus column" for this life that has chosen me. I am capable of doing what needs to be done. At very least, if it is beyond my abilities, I am capable of hiring someone to do it, and have a decent chance of not getting "taken to the cleaners".

It always gets my hackles up a bit when I hear women who are single, (whether "really" single or temporarily single by circumstance), complaining about things that need to be done and not having a man to do it for them. You can do it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, then you have friends and neighbours, community and family, that hopefully you have cultivated and they will help you. And that you will help in return.

Now don't get me wrong, I love having the Wolf around, and I need him in my life. I do ask him to do things he is better suited to than I am, when he is here. But if he is not around, I don't become dysfunctional. I am a strong human being, a strong woman, and I can do what needs to be done.

Like climb up a big, scary ladder, and fix a clothes line.