Gumption

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The will to continue. The energy that inspires others to be energetic as well. To have the guts to say what you feel and mean it. The spunk, the self-confidence that radiates from your fingertips. The word, "gumption" is used to maybe describe an old car that still won't give up the fight, or an old steamboat in the south. But, when I think of gumption, an entirely different meaning comes to mind...

In 2006, another ordinary, feel-good chick flick was released, called "The Holiday". I know critics say it was horrendous, and Nancy Meyers' direction skills makes little puppies cry; but at that time, that movie was as good as gold to me. The character Iris (Kate Winslet) and her story are really the only parts worth watching.  Iris is dumped by her rotten ex-boyfriend who still wants her around as his mistress while he becomes engaged to another woman. She leaves England for L.A. to switch houses with Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and ends up meeting the cutest old ex-film director, Arthur (Eli Wallach) who teaches her the meaning of this word and how to move on with her life. He (Arthur), explains this by making her watch old films with strong feminine leads. And, in the end, when the ex-boyfriend comes crawling to her front door saying he wants her back, but, he is still going to marry the other woman, Iris finally has the strength and the guts to look him in the eye and to tell him to bugger off. What my point here is, I wish all women and young girls to have this strength, this gumption.

Self-confidence is a woman's power tool. I want all women to know that they do not need a man to  feel beautiful or worth anything, because they are already beautiful and worth everything. They do not need to keep going back to the same scumbag they've dated eight times before. Ladies, if he made you feel like shit once, he'll probably do it again, time to move on. Having gumption means that you will move on. That you will wake up the next morning (alone) with the most glorious bed-head and believe inside and out, that you are pretty. No make-up required.  In fact, having gumption (I believe) makes you ten times more powerful and attractive, so you're sure to hook a hottie, not a loser, in no time. So, before you put on your make-up in the morning, put your gumption on first.