Dedicated to all women out there

As the world observes March as the international women’s month, let this column of mine be a tribute to all women out there. Let me start by saying that behind every successful man there is always a woman, yes, a mother, a sister, a friend, or a wife or a daughter. But there is also a counterpart of that famous cliché and that is: behind every failure of a man there is a woman.

Let me be very specific about this tribute. Let me name this woman as SHE (the pronoun of woman).

SHE is the creative force of the universe. Life begins in her womb and it is in her guiding hands and tender care that life finds its expression. The reach of her arms can provide comfort and deliverance. Just one hug from her could heal everything from a broken knee to a broken heart.

SHE can multitask — one ear on the phone, one eye on the television, the other eye keeping watch on the stove or oven or wood stove, one ear constantly alert just in case someone will shout out for “Ma” or “Mie” or “Nay” for help and one hand slicing for vegetables or mixing salad.

SHE has a dual personality. Almost every woman has two personalities. SHE can be helpless, quivering, and vulnerable at one point and strong and dependable on some occasions.

All these make up for the woman behind every man’s success.

However, SHE can be mean, nagging, and disastrous which would cause for a man to fail on something. Whenever a man attempts to achieve something like fame or fortune there is allegedly a woman to screw things up.

It was said before that the only reason Michelangelo painted the mural on the Sistine chapel ceiling lying upside down was because it was the only place Mrs. Michelangelo could not bug him out because SHE was scared of heights.

I have read also that throughout history many talented and famous men were put in the same position of that of Michelangelo. They were not able achieve greatness because at their moment of creativity a woman stepped in and all was lost.

The only reason Isaac Newton discovered gravity by sitting down under the tree when an apple fell on him was that he gave up doing stuff at home and went out to get some PEACE (away from the maddening presence of his wife) by sitting under that apple tree. He most likely would have also invented “Fig Newtons” according to some scholars had he not been constantly nagged by his wife.

To all women out there: be proud that you cause the success or failure of your man.