Have you ever been alone in your car, driving somewhere, and your favorite song comes on the radio? As soon as you hear the first few notes, an enormous smile covers your face, you scream "That's my jam!" and you immediately reach for the volume button and start singing the lyrics to the top of your lungs. You're the superstar and although you've never been able to carry a tune your entire life, your voice is suddenly golden and you hit every note! Your body moves in perfect rhythm and your existence has been escalated to another realm. The song lyrics that you love speak to you in a way that touches the very essence of your soul. The rest of your day has been elevated to a higher level and now you feel like you can take over the world! You Are Woman!!

You may be able to relate the songs lyrics to a challenging time in your life that you thought --as you were going through it-- would "break you" but it didn't. You survived. Maybe a little battle scarred but nonetheless victorious. And your favorite song is your victory dance.  

More often than not American music has ignored the role of Independent Women. Our music doesn't always promote the power that women carry and sometimes chooses to broadcast negative messages that don't encourage growth or change. The most disturbing messages are those that report that women will never be able to achieve happiness or wealth unless they have a man in their lives. And God forbid if you're single...there's just no hope for you at all. Well, I'm not knocking marriage, but I personally think that women, married or single, can do it all and have it all if they want it. And I have facts to back it up!

• As of 2005, males outnumbered females in every age group through 35-39 years old. As a matter of fact, according to the most recent census the current ratio of unmarried women to unmarried men is 1:1.3. So whatever you heard about a male shortage is not totally true.
• In almost 20% of all marriage relationships, the wife earns at least $5,000 more than her husband. Cha-ching! (U.S. Census)
• In 147 out of 150 of the biggest cities in the U.S., the median full-time salaries of young women are 8% higher than the salaries of their male counterparts. And the news is even better in the NC area, in Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte single professional women earn 14% more in income compared to their male counterparts. As a matter of fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that for the first time, women made up the majority of the workforce in highly paid managerial positions.
• Among 22% of married couples, the wife has more education. (U.S. Census)
• Nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing nearly 13 million people and generating almost $2 trillion in sales. The myth that women aren't good in math or business bites the dust. (Center for Women's Business Research 2001)
• 60% of America's wealth is controlled by women. (National Foundation of Women Business Owners)
• Single women represent 20% of all first-time home-buyers. (National Association of Realtors, as cited in Business Women's Network)

In my opinion, women should feel empowered everyday. Who else can coordinate a household's schedule which includes school, homework and after-school activities while working a 40-hour work week and still find time to kiss the hubby goodnight? Let's also give a shout out to all the single professional sisters who work hard and play hard (and may be raising a family as a single parent). Women serve as surrogate parents to nieces and nephews, are actively involved in the community and are still able to climb the corporate ladder. Women, whether single or married, can accomplish the most complicated and formidable tasks and are rarely given credit for the order, efficiency, professionalism, creativity and leadership they bring to the table.  

When you're a woman living in America it may not be easy but you can live a comfortable life and with proper planning you can have it all -- happiness, peace of mind and financial security. Why shouldn't you? You are talented, educated and beautiful. Blessed to have been Born This Way.