#LikeAGirl

I really like this because I had and continue to have limits in my life. I've been made to feel limited at work, at school, and sometimes at home when I was growing up.

Girls are not supposed to be good at math
I have taken the highest level math in my field that an undergrad can take.

Girls roles are to get married, and raise a family.
I learned too late that one has the freedom to turn down men. I have been in a relationship for 2 years, and yes we've had ups and downs, and talked about marriage. The conclusion? We are happy being not married right now. We both have a lot going on in our lives, and marriage is not going to be an advantage to us in any way.

Girls can't be brave.
I usually walk half way to work, when the weather is nice. Living in San Francisco, I have to be brave, it is a busy, big city.

My blog of...over 10 years now is called Defying Gravity. Every day, I have people and situations that hold me back, and I have to rise up to defy those challenges, those daily gravities. What are your gravities?

Gravity

I'm sure I've written on this topic time, and time again. But for some reason, my life currently and  truly reflects the phrase I

decided to call my website: Defying Gravity.

Gravity is what holds us to the earth. It is the consent, everlasting force that keeps us grounded. In my mind, gravity is the force in life that restricts us from truly flying, and reaching for our dreams and goals. Gravity is fear, some people  who are invested in music may refer to their gravity as "the man." Gravity is that person in your life that holds you back, and restricts you from truly understanding your capabilities. Gravity is doubting yourself, second guessing yourself. My ultimate goal, more than anything is to defy my gravities. Defy what is holding me back. I strive to defy fear, and doubt. 
I came to this conclusion in 2005 when I moved to San Diego the first time. I was given a burned CD to the musical Wicked, and I had read the book of the same name.I had this idea that my moving out was my escape, my chance in becoming something great without anything to hold me back. I found a lot of comfort and confirmation in the song Defying Gravity from the Wicked soundtrack. The main character had been portrayed as the ultimate "bad guy" and decided that the people who were closest to her were holding her back from her true potential. She made the radical decision to leave them to pursue her freedom. It was a story I could compare to, and thus, I adapted the theme of Defying Gravity to my website, and my life. Here is a shortened version of the song that has been mt inspiration for almost 10 years now


.

The meaning behind my blog name.

My blog is called Defying Gravity, One Day At A Time. I got this name from the stage production of "Wicked." There is a very powerful song called "Defying Gravity." I have never seen this particular play, but I have wanted to for a long time. The song takes place when the main character Elphaba, is fed up with all of these challenges, these "gravities" holding her down from her total potential as an activist, a political influence, and maybe even as a witch. So she decides that no matter how hard she tries to do good, people are going to look past that and deem her as "wicked." She can not seem to get anywhere by following rules, she is tired of facing limits. So she decides that she is going to "fly solo, but at least I'll be flying free."
I have felt like Elphaba so many times in my life for so many different reasons. Living under the roof of a strict and sometimes unreasonable and illogical rules was the majority of my gravity. I really connected with this song when I moved to San Diego the first time in 2005. I had never felt the freedom, true freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted and never had to check in with anyone.
Since then, I feel as though I (as well as every person) goes through daily challenges, daily gravities. Things that hold us back from our true potential. Perhaps someone tells you that you can not do something. Maybe you tell yourself that something can not happen. But at some point, you just have to forget rules, forget what other people tell you and forget the restrictions and just go for it.
I have my daily gravities, you have daily gravities. It takes strength, guts and a lot of personal pep talks to learn how to screw the rules and Defy Gravity.