Today, I’m sharing with you a quote by Frida Kahlo, famous Mexican painter who was born in 1907. This woman was obviously a force of nature, vibrant and larger than life, but also vulnerable and very human. She represents the pain every woman on earth is going through—physical and emotional. Know that not a lot can fathom the anguish of a woman who has been hurt, the depth of her sorrow, the height of her bliss then the descent to the grey plateaus in between. Frida showed that a female’s life is so full yet so empty. But she conquers her passion and needs and meditates herself to a spiritual trance by her paintings and by writing it all down in her diary.
Frida proved how strong a woman can be and how much she can endure in the face of adversity. Even though I empathize with the pain she went through, some because of her physical illness of a broken spine when she was 6 then the pain of constant infidelity from her husband, Diego Rivera. He was her best friend and the first critic of her art, before they married but who was constantly unfaithful to her. He was never her husband or ‘hers’–-as Frida says. He belonged to many women and mostly he belonged to himself only. Frida and Diego were in constant conflict, and she had the passion and talent to paint her pain, about their relationship and also her physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.
She suffered, a lot. Should she have married a narcissistic womanizer? Who knows? Remember she was just the product of her time. She certainly made beauty out of the situation. But I don’t believe two people who constantly hurt one another are necessarily good role models for how one lives life. I’d much, much rather be content in life and not be famous than in constant emotional and physical pain and famous. I’ve been in my share of destructive relationships, and I don’t recommend it, even if great art comes from it. I admire them both in many ways, but they were self-destructive and unhealthy in a lot of ways.
Frida even through all this gives us the hope that we will overcome any calamity we might face. She tells us to laugh, to love hard and mostly to survive no matter what.
And that’s what I wish you. Enjoy your day y’all!
I’m not going to ask you to kiss me
Neither ask for forgiveness when I believe that you have done wrong
or that you have made a mistake.
Nor am I going to ask you to hug me when I need it the most
or to invite me to dinner on our anniversary.
I’m not going to ask you to go around the world
to live new experiences much less
ask you to give me your hand when we are in that city.
I’m not going to ask you to tell me how pretty I’ am
even if it’s a lie or that you write me anything nice.
Nor will I ask you to call me to tell me
how your day was or tell me you miss me.
I’m not going to ask you to thank me for everything I do for you,
for you to worry about me when my moods are down
and of course I will not ask you to support me in my decisions.
I’m not going to ask you to listen to me when I have a thousand
stories to tell you.
I’m not going to ask you to do anything,
not even to stay by my side forever.
Because if I have to ask you
I do not want it anymore.
xoxo
Oh how I love this! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s just what I needed today!
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Glad I was of service! Thank you for reading.
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The poem at the end speaks volumes. I love it. It’s so true. If you have to ask for it, it just doesn’t mean the same.
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It just does not mean anything, if you have to ask. Thanks for commenting, Rebecca.
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Great quote! I’ve never heard of Frida Kahlo before. Sounds like she had a challenging life and made the best of it.
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Frida sure did live a challenging life but she made great use of it by creating wonderful arts.
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Informative. Her picture was in our room on a stay in Mexico, i couldn’t think of her name!
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You got me to thank for that then…..lol. Thanks for commenting.
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What a remarkable and inspiring woman, I hadn’t hear of her until I read your post so I feel like I learnt a lot. I loved the quote about having wings to fly, what a confident and empowering message!
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Yay me! Love that you found her through me….lol. And yes she was quite an inspiring woman.
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This is so true!! We have wings to FLY and we can endure so much more than we think. Thank you!
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Thank you for commenting, Annie.
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I have seen this photo so many times but never knew anything about Fruda and I’m glad to know about who she was. Makes a difference now when I look at her image. I can more identify with her persona.
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I’m glad you were able to broaden your knowledge about Frida. Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie.
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Absolutely love the poem you included — the “Because if I have to ask, I do not want it anymore” is such a good line! Frida Kahlo was a force to be reckoned with and her work is as powerful and relevant today as ever.
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Thank you! Glad I found someone who knew her and how relevant she still is today.
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I have a few friends obsessed with Frida. I always wondered why. I never knew her story until now. We sure can endure more than we think.
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We sure can. All we have to do is call up the strength within us. Thanks for reading.
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i dont know why i love it so much but something at the back of my head tells me its because i can relate to this. the last part got me emotional.Thanks for sharing this,i love it..xoxo
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Thanks for reading, Jossynana! Hope
your travels been fun and safe.
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So nice read! A must share post! I love the poem amd i love her story too. I was inspired after I read the whole post, she is for sure a true survivor of uncertainties in life and a stronger woman!
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She sure survived a whole lot of struggles and still created good art. Thank you for commenting.
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loved this little piece! I love Frida so much… She was an amazing and talented artist, did so much for art history and for women all around the world! She was and still is an inspiring artist 🙂 glad to see her being remembered still!
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Frida will always be remembered. She was a strong and talented woman. Thanks for commenting.
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This is an inspiring write up all loaded with emotions that represent perhaps to whole womanhood. Truly we can endure much more than we think.
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We sure can endure many situations. Thanks for commenting.
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I remember seeing her picture somewhere but didn’t know anything about Frida Kahlo. This is such an inspiring post about a remarkable woman. Loved the poem in the end.
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Thanks for taking time to read, Vasundhra!
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This is so interesting… so many things I did not know
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So many. Knowledge is continuous, you learn everyday. Thanks for commenting.
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I was raised by a strong woman so I think woman are much stronger than men. They are only stronger physically.Whenever the situation calls for it, most women will find that inner strength somewhere and somehow, in order to rise to the occasion.
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Yes, women always rise to the occasion whenever a situation demands it. Thanks for your comment.
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This was a really fun post. Frida Kahlo is a very inspirational woman so I enjoyed reading this.
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Thank you for stopping by Ellie.
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Frida is a great artist for a woman and a great artist in general. Really love the poem that she wrote, it how feel.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Never knew about the story behind her suffering.
I know about her being a great artist, guess it was kind of an escape.
Thank you for keeping us strong 🙂
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It sure was an escape for her and she thereby created great arts from it all. Thank you for reading Ron!
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She was one amazing woman, all of her quotes are very true! I always look up to her for her strength and her positive thinking. Thank you for sharing this!
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Absolutely amazing one! And thank you for reading.
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What a persuading post to get me reading til the end! Frida is one of those persons that I’ve adored the most, I’ve read her story and even the movie as well. Great poem indeed, a person doesn’t need to ask anything from the person who cares or value her as much as she does. Adorable one thanks for sharing!
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Waoh! Didn’t know there is a movie. Can I get the name? I love everything Frida. Thanks for sharing.
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Such a strong woman! And she’s definitely right. We CAN endure a lot, and we can turn negative experiences into art. I have written some pieces of poetry myself (and hope to finish a historical novel one day) and I know that I couldn’t go on writing if I was perfectly happy. Of course, it’s better to live happily and be less productive, but I think that if we have problems, we must try to turn them to our advantage somehow.
Love your post! And the poem is touching and so true! ❤
"Because if I have to ask you
I do not want it anymore."
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Nice to know you write poetry and are finishing your novel. Can’t wait to read it. Kudos to you and thanks for commenting.
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I live Frida Kahlo! She was such a strong woman and a survivor! Thanks for this inspiration! I needed it today.
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Glad I made a difference I your today.
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So beautiful and inspiring, thank you for sharing!
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You welcome
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Such beautiful words, love the poem, so true and close to my heart! She had a challenging life and still made the best of it by creating amazing art. I am glad I read this post, it is so inspiring.
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Thank you for reading
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Oh i have never knew about frida kahlo. I think she is an amazing woman.
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She really was amazing. Thank you for reading.
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She did have a challenging life and I think that’s why she was a good painter. I love how these major artists sublime their pain into something beautiful!
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So true! They channel their pain to create something awesome, Thanks for reading Ana
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Frida was so far ahead of her time. She suffered her whole life but always remained strong inside and true to herself.
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Needed this today… much love!
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