On the periodic table, Be stands for Beryllium. Beryllium is a strong yet brittle earth metal. Strong yet brittle…doesn’t that describe most of us? Yet as a woman, if you’re perceived as strong…you’re often categorized as a bitch. If you appear brittle…you’re categorized as weak and vulnerable. Some of us spend a lot of time governing our personalities and how we come off to those around us. We do everything possible to climb the ladders of success, and even make it through the world of dating, all while trying to prevent ourselves from being known as a bitch. For me, I’ve grown to embrace it and just Be. If being a strong-willed woman, makes me a bitch, then so be it. The truth is, no matter what I do, I cannot control what others think of me.

My past hardened me, and because of that I often come off too assertive. Too guarded. I have been called a bitch more times than I care to count. But that one characteristic of me, far from describes who I am. What it does tell me though is that people that need to call me that, or describe me in that way, are people who are intimidated by me. Either because I am too assertive, or because I am just mentally stronger than they want me to be. What I mean by the latter of the two, is that not everyone wants you to succeed in life. Not everyone is on your team. You have to be strong for yourself, for your family, and for your own success; and that intimidates some people. Those are the people that will try to tear you down. Especially so they can succeed past you.

There are so many other “B” words to Be in this life, and that encompass who I and you really are. For instance, I am brave, beautiful, blessed, bodacious, bossy, big-hearted, and even better-off. I am also broken, battered, belittled, betrayed and bitter. The list can go on and on. The fact of the matter is, I am who I am. Take it or leave it. The only person you should change for…is you. If you need improvement, do it. If you need to take it down a notch, do it. Look in the mirror and examine who you are and who you want to become. Not who you are expected to be by others in order to fit in to their world.

So, instead of succumbing to what others think we are, why not Be what we know we are and who we are capable of being? Why not embrace all that we are and just Be? In a world full of “B” words, what will you BE?