Most of us admire people who are strong! Strength is something we tend to respect in others, want for ourselves and wish for our children. Sometimes though, our society confuses "strength" with "aggression" and even "violence." Everyone needs to be able to be strong...and gentle. Gentleness is not the opposite of strength. Weakness is!! (The opposite of gentleness is violence!)

In fact, it takes enormous strength to confront our feelings and give them appropriate expression. It takes strength to acknowledge our anger, and sometimes even more strength to curb the aggressive urges that anger may bring, and to channel those urges into nonviolent outlets.

It takes strength to face our sadness and to grieve, letting our grief and anger flow in tears when they need to. It takes strength to talk about our feelings and to reach out for help and comfort when we need it. There is no "masculine" or "feminine" when it comes to anger or sorrow. And certainly no weakness in expressing feelings that are human and common to us all. Women can be strong and men can be gentle...and both can cry.

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