In less than 5 months, I’ll be turning 60 years old! To be perfectly honest, I’ve never been anxious about entering into another decade, but this decade is different. I’m actually a little stressed, y’all! And to make matters worse, I looked up hashtags trending with #60andsexy on Hashtagify, and I couldn’t believe what popped up. I was expecting to see #60andfabulous, but instead, I saw #beefcake, #muscledaddy, and #hairygay. Needless to say, this did not help. Don’t get me wrong. I know I’m blessed to still be here, but turning 60 has me reevaluating my life.
I went to the doctor for an annual checkup, and everything checked out. However, my doctor did urge me to take better care of myself and not take my health for granted. So, that means working out more and eating whatever I want less. I’ve started making better choices about my diet, and I’ve even started taking better care of my skin. I’ve started with my face, and the best facial for my skin is the hydra-facial from LaserAway. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated, fresh, and supple. I’ve also added hair removal laser treatments to my routine, and it’s literally the best thing I’ve done for myself. I’ve truly started to appreciate the benefits of selfcare and treating yourself. Feeling good on the inside and the outside helps me feel better and improves my mental well-being.
When I think about my professional career, I think about how far I could’ve gone had I made different choices. It also reminds me of how difficult the workplace and corporate ladder can be for women, women of color, and women with children. Although my son is 35 years old, the struggles haven’t changed that much. In fact, it is more hostile than ever before. Between the never-ending micro-aggressions, the glass cliff, and the overwhelming feeling of never being enough even when you know you’re so much better than everyone else, I’m shocked that I didn’t lose my sanity years ago. I can truly say that I mostly enjoyed my time in corporate America, but I know that my journey would’ve been much different if I had known then what I know now. Being the only Black woman in the room, at the conference table, or on the conference call is exhausting. People are constantly asking who you know because they assume you didn’t get there by merit. And, to be honest, even if you do have all of the credentials needed, you’ll still need to know someone because you’ll still be overlooked, not seen, or not heard. As I reach the final act of my career in marketing, I think about the ups and downs, but I’ve also discovered what I will not tolerate or stand for in the workplace. I’ve also begun to explore what I really want to do when I grow up. I still don’t know, but I’m having fun trying to figure it out. Many times, we stay at jobs or careers longer than we should because of responsibilities.
Now that my only responsibility is me, I’m in a position to focus on what truly makes me happy and allows me to utilize my talents on my dreams instead of the dreams of others. When I figure everything out, you’ll be the first to know! In the meantime, I’m enjoying this new chapter, even if I am a little nervous. Black still don’t crack and this melanin is still poppin!
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