I'm a Phenomenal Woman!!

    In liu of today's musings, I want to share with you a wonderful lady, Valerie, Proprietress of the Etsy Shop Discerning Chi-Chi.  The Shop is a visual delight, featuring "Jewelry and fiber accessories for the spirited, spiritual and elegantly feminine discerning chi-chi, for every day wear and special occasions. A range of designs to suit your mood and style - healing/inspirational gemstone for mind body and spirit, vintage inspired, shabby chic/country cottage, bohemian, rustic, dressy, whimsical, girly & more."  One delightful feature of her shop is healing jewelry infused with positive energies via Valerie's Reiki skills; I have my eye on this beauty, a wrap bracelet, featuring a goddess charm with the spiral of life symbol (HINT HINT).


    Valerie is also the writer/designer of one of my favorite cyber-space "happy places," Discerning Chi-Chi.  She recently posted recruits for a feature on "Phenomenal Women," based around the 1978 poem by Maya Angelou.  At first I felt hesitant to respond, after all, my whole blog revolves around being ordinary. But this poem resonates so strongly with me, that I was compelled to raise my hand and say "Yes! I qualify!"  


    Today, the end result of our collaboration is featured on Valerie's beautiful blog.  I am humbly honored to be among the ranks of her Phenomenal Women collection, and I urge you to absorb the majesty of the poem, and to raise your hand up too.  Because on our journeys, caring for others, bringing meaning to our workplaces, tending to our family members and friends, smiling at strangers in the supermarkets, holding the hands of those who need comfort... we are Phenomenal Women.  In our struggles, our peace, our core beings, we are Phenomenal.


Thanks, Valerie, for bringing this powerful piece into my life.




Phenomenal Woman
-Maya Angelou


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.