Once upon a time (actually in 1941, if you really want to know) a cartoon series was created about a woman with a 12-inch waist and breasts you could use as battering rams, wearing blue satin pants with stars on them, and a red bustier.
This character was called Wonder Woman, presumably because people wondered why any woman would go to Tesco’s dressed like that.
Wonder Woman was billed as a heroine fighting for justice, love, peace, and sexual equality. Because men too should be allowed to wear satin blue pants with stars on them.
Fast forward to the early noughties and Wonder Woman had experienced a major New Millennium, no longer doing martial arts and riding on an invisible aeroplane (yes, she had one of those). Now she was picking her children up from school in a people carrier, taking them to gymnastics class and answering work emails at the same time, doing all the housework, setting up a business and going to hot yoga classes, all while wearing Zara basics and Spanx.
We were all Wonder Woman. We too had a wide range of superhuman powers and superior combat skills, which we employed every day, just to get out of the front door. We could do it all. Have it all. Live it all. Wear satin pants with stars on. Except… we couldn’t. Something had to give. And it was either the underwear, or our sanity… And, as it turns out, satin is more durable.
Fast forward to today, and we have buried Wonder Woman in a spangly 42DD box. Today is the Age of Reality Woman. Reality Woman knows her limits. She knows that she can’t do it all, or have it all. And she is very OK with this.
Reality Woman knows that ‘having it all’ is code for ‘having a breakdown’ or ‘lying through your teeth.’ She is far smarter than to aim for something unattainable. She does what she can, as best as she can, and for all the rest… she gets HELP.
Whether it’s a cleaner or some babysitting, a dog walker or an elderly carer to check in on her Grandmother who lives 400 miles away and doesn’t always remember to eat properly, Reality Woman has her team in place, and is a lot healthier and happier for it.
She also knows when to say NO. No, I can’t. And I’m OK with that. So if you need to change your blue satin pants for some Reality ones, do it now. Do it today. Get some support and help, and make your life a lot easier and more comfortable. You’ll be very glad you did.
Bye-bye Wonder Woman… Hello 21st Century
While Wonder Woman fought for justice, love, peace & sexual equality, Reality Woman knows that ‘having it all’ is code for ‘having a breakdown’!
