Velvet Steel and Feminine Power

Velvet Steel and Feminine Power Back Story

In the late 1990s, I was contacted to see if I would be available to be a presenter at a women's conference for women looking for ways to find their power as well as more opportunities. They also asked if I would be willing to write a poem that would build on the theme. I said yes and started thinking about what I would write. Unfortunately the conference never did get organized but I had the chance to think about the issues and write about them.

I named the poem, Velvet Steel and Feminine Power! I do believe women are strong and even tough when they need to be. We do tend to wrap our power in velvet to hold onto our feminine side. The combination of power and velvet is not a bad thing. Many times it works better than simple power. Dr. Bev Forbes, now retired from Seattle University, wrote that I was an example of Transformational Leadership. I treasured reading that as I used to drive to Seattle to attend her women's breakfast at Seattle U each month, no matter what the weather. Soft power is a part of Transformational Leadership. Women build work groups and partnerships. We are powerful and sometimes we go further wrapping the power in femininity.

It is also important for women to understand that "our fairy godmother" is not coming to rescue us. As I have shared many times with my wand in hand......"The secret of the magic wand is that it does not work....BUT WE DO! We create the magic in our lives!" We need to work while remembering that winning is daring to sometimes be wrong and caring enough to be strong.

So touch your cheek and say, "I LOVE YOU"!