{"id":2216,"date":"2017-04-03T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T10:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/?p=2216"},"modified":"2017-03-31T16:44:01","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T20:44:01","slug":"i-am-woman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/2017\/04\/i-am-woman.html","title":{"rendered":"I Am Woman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forty years ago when I was a very young artist, I moved into a 5000 square foot loft with my boyfriend. The space was completely raw, with no heat, no hot water and no electricity, but tons of matted dust in the exposed rafters of that old felt factory. Tons of dust that constantly rained down along with globs of knotted thread, pins and needles.<\/p>\n

So we built a scaffold and spent the next 4 months 10 feet in the air scrapping the filth and flaking paint with a six inch scraper. My hair was wrapped in a scarf, but I don\u2019t remember wearing goggles, let alone a mask or air filter. It was the most gross, exhausting, agonizing work I have ever done. I was completely miserable, and as it turns out, pregnant.<\/p>\n

Only one thing got me through that ordeal \u2014 Helen Reddy singing \u201cI Am Woman\u201d on the radio. I think it was number one, because they played it constantly. She saved my sanity and made me feel powerful and proud of my efforts. \u201cIf I have to, I can do anything. I am strong. I am invincible.\u201d<\/p>\n

I Am Woman <\/strong><\/p>\n

I am woman, hear me roar
\nIn numbers too big to ignore
\nAnd I know too much to go back an’ pretend
\n‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
\nAnd I’ve been down there on the floor
\nNo one’s ever gonna keep me down again<\/p>\n

Oh yes, I am wise
\nBut it’s wisdom born of pain
\nYes, I’ve paid the price
\nBut look how much I gained
\nIf I have to, I can do anything
\nI am strong
\n(Strong)
\nI am invincible
\n(Invincible)
\nI am woman<\/p>\n

You can bend but never break me
\n‘Cause it only serves to make me
\nMore determined to achieve my final goal
\nAnd I come back even stronger
\nNot a novice any longer
\n‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul<\/p>\n

Oh yes, I am wise
\nBut it’s wisdom born of pain
\nYes, I’ve paid the price
\nBut look how much I gained
\nIf I have to, I can do anything
\nI am strong
\n(Strong)
\nI am invincible
\n(Invincible)
\nI am woman<\/p>\n

I am woman watch me grow
\nSee me standing toe to toe
\nAs I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
\nBut I’m still an embryo
\nWith a long, long way to go
\nUntil I make my brother understand<\/p>\n

Oh yes, I am wise
\nBut it’s wisdom born of pain
\nYes, I’ve paid the price
\nBut look how much I gained
\nIf I have to, I can face anything
\nI am strong
\n(Strong)
\nI am invincible
\n(Invincible)
\nI am woman<\/p>\n

I am woman
\nI am invincible
\nI am strong
\nI am woman
\nI am invincible
\nI am strong
\nI am woman\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Songwriters<\/strong>
\nBURTON, RAY \/ REDDY, HELEN<\/p>\n

* ***<\/p>\n

Donna Henes is the author of The Queen of My Self: Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife<\/u><\/em><\/a>. She offers counseling and upbeat, practical and ceremonial guidance for individual women and groups who want to enjoy the fruits of an enriching, influential, purposeful, passionate, and powerful maturity. Consult the MIDLIFE MIDWIFE\u2122<\/p>\n

The Queen welcomes questions concerning all issues of interest to women in their mature years. Send your inquiries to thequeenofmyself@aol.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forty years ago when I was a very young artist, I moved into a 5000 square foot loft with my boyfriend. The space was completely raw, with no heat, no hot water and no electricity, but tons of matted dust in the exposed rafters of that old felt factory. 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