Find and keep a hairstylist to flawlessly cover your grays
And someone to trim and paint the nails you’d otherwise pick at and bite
Purchase proper work shoes – platformed, close-toed, professional, petite
And black leather – always
Fill in the eyebrows you paid to have threaded in your 30s
And wipe the lenses of the black, wide-rimmed glasses from Costco
Because wearing glasses may mean being perceived as being smart and capable
And appearances are everything when you’re a 40-something-year-old woman in America
Get noticed without being seen as a threat
Know you will be a threat to some but keep shining anyway
Learn to see past the inevitable haters
Meditate before going into the office
And forge relationships with those who support, appreciate, and help grow you
Read the news of this country’s great fall without getting upset
Stay informed, forever informed, but step away when it’s all too much
And allow yourself the properly vent in front of your new therapist
Permanently delete the social media accounts started when you were 20-something
Because you know about being a product
And recall what life was like before the compulsion to scroll, upload and update, scroll
Dress for the occasion without being too noticeable
Navigate events where 90% of the attendees make more in one day than you do in a month
Be gracious in any circumstance
Remember your attitude is all you can control
Intuit your way through conflict and challenges
Learn when to hold your tongue
And when to announce your gifts and strengths
Understand, my dear, that people will still hate you, I'm sorry to say
So you learn to take a breath, stand tall in your shoes, and greet them with, “Hi, how’s your day?”