The Lioness Within - When Women Are Challenged

"The Strength of a Woman can carry the weight of the world"— unknown

Dedicated to my cousin Jennifer. You are so much stronger than you think, my love.

I'm a sweetheart.

Gentle, warm, and easygoing.

People see me and think ‘calm’ and ‘soft'.

I always preferred harmony over heat.

So, I never really fought back. I always chose peace.

Until that one summer morning in 2022.

My adorable and happy son had just turned two and started a short part-time kindergarten. A few weeks in, I was excited to pick him up so we could go to my aunt’s house for chocolate cake.

What awaited me that day is something I’ll never forget.

One of his teachers, her face filled with fury, pulled me aside, while another took care of my son. I could hear him screaming for me from the next room.

The teacher told me my son had a problem—lots of problems. He was different, strange, and there was something very wrong with him.

Her words were sharp, carrying irritation, even disgust.

Scientific terms were thrown at me, and I felt like I was drowning in the most overwhelming conversation of my life.

I listened, trying to hold it together.

But when I felt tears coming, I excused myself, took my son in my arms, and walked home. I held him tight - he was heavy, but I didn't care.

I had to hold him. It felt like my world was falling apart.

Our families gathered at our home, offering their support.

They all assured me the teacher was wrong, reminding me of the amazing, fun, and intelligent little boy they knew.

They suggested I pull him out, but I felt it was important to speak with the headmistress first

The next day, I took all my courage and brought him back. The teacher handed me a piece of paper, which I unfolded when I left the building.

It described an angry and withdrawn child, always alone, uninterested in reading or playing—nothing like my son at all.

She severely questioned his mental capabilities and provided a long list of recommended specialists.

I looked at the paper, up at the building, and back at the paper.

Something happened. That’s when she awakened.

The lioness within me.

I turned around and walked back in.

And for the first time in my life, I roared.

I didn’t care. I didn’t back down.

I wasn’t sorry, and I wasn’t seeking peace.

I was driven by an overwhelming urge to protect—to defend someone who couldn’t defend himself, made of my own flesh and blood.

I became the lioness.

And it felt good.

" For those who misconceive you as only but frail, domestic, & helpless, for having the skin of a damsel. They have yet to learn about the lioness that prowls beneath your ribs; her strength, courage, fierceness & her unquestionable ability to terribly confound those who underestimate the power of a Woman."

Diana David

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She lives within all of us. She is in me, she is in you.

Whether you've known her all your life or are yet to hear her roar, she is there: quiet, powerful, waiting for the right moment to rise.

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She sleeps quietly within, beneath layers of expectation and self-doubt.

We often underestimate the power we carry, as if it belongs to someone else, someone braver.

But there are moments in life, often unexpected, when we feel her.

A sudden energy, a whisper of courage, a force that pushes us beyond our limits.

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The lioness is a creature of quiet strength—calm, composed, and ever watchful.

She sits in silence, her eyes observing the world around her, not showing aggression, but rather exuding a quiet confidence. If you look at her, you don't see rage, but you feel the fire that lies just beneath the surface.

You know, without a doubt, that she is not to be tested.

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It’s remarkable how our inner lioness often awakens when we fight for others.

We instinctively rise to protect those we love.

But we must also learn to draw on that same strength when we have to fight for ourselves.

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The lioness is not just a myth; she is the essence of every woman.

She is not a stranger; she is the part of us that fights for what we love, stands tall in the face of adversity, and rises from the ashes of challenge with even greater strength.

Whether we know her like a friend or only feel her in fleeting moments of fierce love and protection, she is within us.

Since that fateful summer day, I have transformed in ways words cannot describe.

I stand taller, stronger, knowing that whenever life demands it, I can awaken the lioness within me—her strength now a constant, always within reach.

And so can you, for the lioness lives in every woman, waiting for the moment when she will rise and roar.

Fierce, unbreakable, and free.

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How my story ended, back in 2022?

My roar was heard. Changes were made, and as a result, one individual no longer held a position there.

As for my son, it was that he didn't feel comfortable in the group. After a few adjustments, he started to thrive and enjoyed going to kindergarten.

He is developing amazingly, loves martial arts, and has a ton of friends.

So don't forget to roar, my lovelies.

With love always,