Life as a woman

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As women, we are each special and unique in our own way. It may be hard for some men to accept that we make these decisions for personal reasons. There are so many mean people in the world. Online crime is the number one target for women. It’s best to play it safe by not taking chances and risks. I rely on my instincts and intuition at all times to survive! I have to for my family’s protection.

If someone asks, “What do I personally struggle with every day?” I can give a complex response or be open and honest about it. My complex answer includes so many obstacles that I do not have control over—things like identity, profiling, and statistics-based opinions. My color and race do not define who or where I should be. Statistics tend to classify and separate people based on society’s expectations. I would be the same woman living in the city, suburbs, or rural areas.

I am who I am, and I am proud about the woman I have become. My character, poise, and pleasant demeanor define me and only me. I am who I am: strong and independent. My identity makes Latrese unique in every way that matters. My social, economic, and genetic backgrounds sculpture me into Latrese Riley. I live in a world where racial and gender profiling is biased and unfair. I wish that would change now!

I struggle with my image in the mirror and also behind closed doors. I don’t know if any other woman does, but I do. I admit that I look in my mirror and say “what if” a lot. I often wonder if I made the right decision. I wonder about my clothes and what looks good on me at my age. I probably shouldn’t wear short shorts. I definitely will not wear a pleated skirt either.

So, where do I fit in? Then I have days where I don’t like my reflection. We all have flaws and bad days, but this is what I secretly struggle with. I wonder how my life would have turned out if I looked different—taller, smaller, bigger. If I changed my hair color, would anybody notice or care? Am I this or that?

Then there are days that I just don’t care. Yes, I want to be that confident woman even when I feel insecure for various reasons. I never would have guessed that adult acne hits hard in your 40s! I wish that I could find something that works for under $20. So, even in this cruel, biased world, I am proud to be a woman.