I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years...the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water. Amy Tan
We needn't look far to observe that most very young girls have a strong sense of self or 'I'dentity -- they are connected not just to the world, but to themselves. My friend Rebecca has a daughter who brims with a sense of self; perhaps that's why I find her so winning.
And why too I can't pull myself away from this Minerva Teichert painting.
In their jubilant dancing, I see 'I'dentity bursting forth from women who are connected to themselves.

So many of the women that I know work tirelessly to connect to and care for others, to nurture and foster the 'I'dentity of husbands, boyfriends, children, parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, community. We do so, in large measure, because of our deep connection to and love for God.
I've observed, however, that we struggle to connect to ourselves. I think we knew how to at some point, but have forgotten.
The 'Atta Girl' is meant to help us to remember.
I do what I do each day because of who I am. Because the good that I do is often difficult to recognize, and to name, it is sometimes hard for others, and even for me, to value my contribution. As such, there is a grace and elegance to what I do and who I am which is, in fact, changing the world.
Or, in the words of Albert Einstein (shout out to Margaret Sieiro Garcia for flagging), "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
Which brings me to the next Random Giveaway -- Every dreamer resolutionary who achieves a score of 70% or better for the two weeks ending January 25 will be eligible to receive a 10" x 7.5" framed print of the above Teichert painting.P.S. as of 1/28 -- the winner is Kathy L. Congratulations Kathy!
If you are still scratching your head about my reasoning behind the Atta G'I'rl, you may want to check out the below posts:
Affirming our 'I'dentity
Throw down your pom-poms
Martha and Mary
Identity crisis
Thank heaven for little Rachels
When our loved ones ask 'what about me?'
Valuing what women do
Looking for the 'I' in the Twilight Series
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