Rules for being a Badass Chick

Here are my long awaited rules for being a BadAss Chick:

1. Forget about the rules, but be prepared for the consequences.  This doesn't mean doing illegal things just because they're illegal.  This means doing what you think is right, living by own values, and not relying on what others say is OK for you to do.  However, if you are breaking rules you have to be prepared for the consequences and make decisions knowing full well what you're getting into.  Don't be naive about it.
2. Be honest.  BAC don't need to lie.  You shouldn't be doing anything that you would be ashamed of admitting to.  If you're honest all the time then people know what they're getting from you is real.
3. Speak your mind.  This ties in with being honest, but takes it a step further.  You can hold your tongue about something you think is wrong and technically you won't be lying, but you won't really be speaking your truth either.  If you think something is important to say, then say it, but don't go around giving your opinion like it's gospel. 
4. Wear what you want.  Fashion should be fun and functional, but don't be a slave to trends.  Develop your own look and borrow freely from styles you like, but ignore fashion "rules" and expectations.  If high heels hurt your feet and you hate them, don't wear them!  If you like to rock leggings more than jeans, go for it!  If you prefer all black or bright colors, don't worry about what palette is "in" for the season.  You should always feel awesome in your clothes.
5. Be fit and ready for anything.  Now, this doesn't mean lose 10 lbs or look better in a bikini.  Diets are stupid and 20 different exercises for that "inner thigh gap" are useless.  I'm talking about functional fitness.  Being up for anything like running to catch a train, learning to surf, climbing a tree, hiking out into the wilderness, dancing all night, swimming in a river, etc. It's about using your body in different ways, regardless of what it looks like.
6. Stick up for the underdog.  Real BAC don't put the little guy down.  Basically, don't be a bully.  Don't join in when people are bashing someone who doesn't deserve it.  Don't use your status as a BAC to intimidate, but to step in when someone needs you.
7. Do everything with confidence.  Even if you have to fake it.  That doesn't mean pretending that you're an expert at something you aren't, or even acting like  you know what you're doing if you don't.  Even when you're learning something new, you can have confidence.  Confidence that you can try something new, learn something, master something, talk to anybody, handle yourself in any situation.  Confidence is not being so afraid to fail that you don't even try.  
8. Don't be a bitch.  Being a BAC isn't the same thing as being a bitch.  BAC are honest, brave, and totally themselves, while bitches are mean just for the sake of being mean but call it honesty.  A bitch might say something like, "Look, I'm just being honest, but your new hair cut looks awful."  BAC are honest about important things, things that matter, and they're tough when they need to be.  Bitches use the excuse of "honesty" to hurt people and label their bullying as "toughness".  Not the same.
9. Forget the haters.  Don't worry about what other people think of you.  Do, say, and wear what feels right to you.  If you start to worry too much about other people's opinion, you probably wouldn't even leave the house.  Someone is always going to disapprove, someone is always going to think what you're doing is wrong, or tacky, or dangerous.  But it's not their life.  
10. Push yourself.  BAC are constantly trying to improve themselves.  Even when you're 95 you should learning new things and exploring the boundaries of your comfort zone.  If you don't push yourself you'll never grow as a person.  Never stop learning, trying, or exploring.

Now go out there and have a BadAss day!

Ms.G

Ten Steps to Become a Badass Chick

These are my ten steps so far on how to become a badass chick:

Step 1: Get a plain notebook that you can journal in, draw in, take notes in, glue cool stuff in, and basically destroy with your badass-ness.

Step 2: Learn the rules for being a badass (will be coming in next post) Follow these to the best of your ability. Make a list of what it means to you to be a badass. How do you define the word?

Step 3: Create a list of your own badass goals. Make a plan and work toward them. What is a badass thing you want to do? Learn Tae kwon do? Buy a motorcycle or scooter? Get a cooler job? How can you work towards what you want?

Step 4: Compile a list of badass role models that inspire you (chick or dudes). Think about what makes them badass. Did they do something inspiring? Can you think of real people or just movie characters?

Step 5: Create a badass playlist of music. What songs make you feel cool or badass just by listening to them? What artists get you pumped? Rock out to it often.

Step 6: Assign yourself badass homework or tasks. Assign yourself small tasks that take you outside your comfort zone and make you feel more badass. How about finally asking out that cute guy in the coffee shop? What about standing you ground in a political argument with a family member? Try speaking out more in class or at work instead of being passive. Whatever you feel makes you grow as a badass.

Step 7: Compile a list of badass movies and books. Think about what make them badass to you. Is it the plot? The characters? The style of writing? Share them with people.

Step 8: Practice your emerging badass-ness and general awesome-ness. Fine tune your goals and rules as you go, but really just get out there and be a fucking badass!

Step 9: Repeat steps 1-8 continously, badasses never stop learning or improving themselves and neither should you.

Step 10: Badasses don't need a step 10, they are already badass! Do you think Chuck Norris needs a step 10?!

Ms.G

Awesome Article

Hello fellow badass chicks in training! I know I know I just submitted my first post a little while ago but I ran across this awesome article by Dr. Jim Taylor on what is REALLY means to be a badass. Loves it! Be sure to read through to the end.

What it Means to be a Badass

The Day I Stopped Asking Permission

I find myself unemployed, lonely, poor, and quickly losing the self confidence that comes with doing what you're good at, which for me is teaching. I've never exactly been the super confident type anyway, but constantly getting turned down for work and sitting around the house has really been doing a number on my mood. I found myself a few weeks ago becoming so whiny and lethargic that I was pissed off by myself, which only made things worse. I was aimlessly surfing the internet when I ran across the picture you see above (click here for the artist's site). I thought to myself, "Why can't I be more like her? Why can't I be great? Why can't I be badass?" Then I wondered whose permission I was asking for anyway.

The day that my car died while I was grocery shopping was the final straw for me. My situation might suck right now, but I was done being a victim, done being passive, done apologizing for things that aren't my fault, and fucking done with asking permission. I'm launching a new career for myself out of my house because I'm done asking people to hire me, but this sort of thing takes a lot of self confidence and guts which I feel that I'm lacking in at the moment. Along with my new career I decided I needed a new outlook on life. I kept coming back to that picture of the graffiti girl and wishing I could be more like her. The only word I could think of to describe her was "Badass". I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary and this is the definition:

Badass:

1.Adjective: Used to describe one who totally owns who he/she is, is uninhibited in who they are and doesn't let what other people think affect his/her actions/decisions.

2.Noun: A person who is the best of the best at what they do professionally and/or personally. Being a Badass goes hand-in-hand with being self confident, secure and uninhibited.

I decided that I was the only one in the way of becoming a more self confident badass. Being an organized person who loves making lists I bought a composition book while I was waiting for my car to be towed and started writing. I figure that since I have nothing but time on my hands right now I can reinvent myself as a badass chick with a new awesome career. Since I have a teaching background I thought I'd turn this into a kind of classroom experiment where I break down what I'm doing into steps for other to follow, assign badass homework, and teach about real badass chicks from history. If you've ever wanted to be more self confident, more secure, and generally more of a badass, then join me as I learn "How to be a Badass Chick".

Ms.G