Uncover your secret strength

It’s not about seducing men, it’s about embracing womanhood.

~Dita Von Teese

My granddaughter Zoë, just two and recently potty trained, started to hop around at the mall as if she was dancing on a bed of hot coals. I took this as a sign that she had to go so I whisked her into the nearest public washroom. She made it. Yay!

I praised her, told her how proud I was of her, that she was a big girl now and didn’t need to wear pull-ups anymore. With a huge smile on her face, and with a clear sense of accomplishment, she became quite excited and animated when she told me that she has lots of nice panties — her favorites being her purple Dora panties. Now we all know it’s common to talk pee-pee and poo-poo in public with young children.  So it wasn’t surprising that at exactly the moment we were leaving the washroom, at exactly the moment we were walking past a line-up at the check-out, in all innocence she used her outside voice and asked: “What color is your panties Grandma?” Everyone chuckled. I blushed and made certain I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. I leaned over and whispered to her sweet little face “My red ones honey and please use your inside voice.” 

Some days I wear my Bridget Jones proper panties.  Other days call for my power panties. Not those provocative wisps we think we should wear for our partner — but those we wear for ourselves to celebrate growing out of girlhood and into a woman.

Let me tell you about mine.

After a divorce my confidence and self-esteem was suffering. I felt fractured. I had always loved the color red but at that time in my life I wasn’t emotionally ready to own the power that red represents — strength, courage, power and passion. I couldn’t relate. It made me uncomfortable. So I didn’t wear it.

But I had a little secret. Whenever I needed a psychological boost I would wear a pair of red panties. Not outside my clothes like a super-hero. My red (not so tiny) knickers were my hidden superpower. Wearing them made me feel invincible.

As I started to own my power, and my life again, I started to incorporate more red: first nail polish then handbags and shoes and ultimately apparel. Bringing red back into my being was a sure-fire confidence booster that made me feel vibrant and full of life.

That episode with Zoë prompted me that maybe my panties might not be as pretty as they once were. So, since then I’ve ruthlessly sorted through my pile of unmentionables and tossed any that were not up to snuff. Too old? Worn out? Lost their shape? Out they went.

On those days when I need to stand a little taller and be a little braver I still reach for my red reminders when I get dressed. After all, even a little girl knows that it feels nice to wear pretty panties.

Wear Your Life Well: Lessons on the Journey to Your Truest Self
Copyright: Helene Oseen 2017