She Really Has It Together (Or Does She?)

She Really Has It Together: A Day In The Life of a Busy Woman

Have you ever participated with a group of professional women, and, as a woman, thought, “she really has it together,” presuming every woman has her game down to a tee when compared to you?

While I don’t see us as competitive with other women, I see us as competitive with ourselves. And, when others seemingly have it “more” together, it’s a personal reminder that we are not achieving the same potential when we’re certain we are capable. I suspect our observations are based on our own drive toward perfectionism-- wanting to be one step better than we are, setting our sights on the rung, one step above our current step. And, we assume, “She’s figured it out.”

The truth is, all of us strive to look “together” on the outside, and have no choice but to conceal (to the best of our ability) our shortcomings. So, I’m taking the opportunity to convey mine—just betting some of you can identify.

See if you can relate to my top-ten list.

Do you have multiple brief cases or portfolios with once-important items in them that need to be cleaned out from last year?
Have you ever used a plastic grocery sack in place of a suitable shoe bag or brief case?
Have you ever skipped ironing the back of your blouse and your sleeves on the basis that you wouldn’t be removing your suit jacket anyway?
Have you ever trimmed off just the chipped edges of your polished nails to avoid repainting them?
Have you ever specifically selected a top which would cover your waistline so you could leave the top button of your pants or skirt open? (Believing losing those few extra pounds is just on the horizon!)
Have you ever turned your nylons over to conceal the run on the top of your foot, to wear them one more time? (…or pulled under the gaping hole in the toe created when your toenail merged through the tip!)
Have you ever deliberately left your car vulnerable to a parking ticket because you didn’t make time to get cash for the meter, deciding that would just be the cost for parking that day?
Have you ever removed a button on a coat or blouse because it would make the other missing button(s) less obvious?
Do you purchase multiple pairs of reading glasses and place them strategically around because it demands less of you than keeping track of your one pair of prescription reading glasses for all tasks?
And, my personal favorite…have you ever attempted to iron your clothes while wearing them (this can be dangerous)?

I have to believe we’re all in the same boat—busy, hardworking, and believing we need to do that much better for ourselves. Yet, review the list again, and consider another perspective—that men generally do not have these concerns.

So, ladies, a toast to us for all that we do and all that we strive to be. We’ll never be satisfied, but we keep forging ahead!