I did not recall that
We had pre-read tasks.
Four hours’ worth of media --
And I have fourteen minutes
Until the session begins.
And so I skated through
The first 22-minute TED talk
At one-point-seven-five X speed
At top volume, speakers straining
While flailing about my home office.
Distracted, determined
I inhale the presenter's insights
Amidst clearing my desk
Grabbing my electric kettle
Finding the right pen
Seeking a notebook with blank pages.
As I whirl about, I am told:
Take up space
Hands on hips:
Wonder Woman stance;
‘Power Pose!'
Eyes up
Shoulders broad
Legs wide with
Teeth showing behind a
Red lip.
“Take two minutes and try it!”
The expert commands.
I pause in my maelstrom.
Two point five minutes out
From the workshop and I
Am struck by the challenge.
I find a forgotten tube
Of French lipstick
In my stationery drawer;
“Fruit de la passion.”
A hue I had told myself was
Too much,
Too daring
Not quite my color.
I slide it on, though, as
I click Enter Room.
Camera safely off.
I stand at my desk, hidden,
In Wonder Woman pose.
I feel absurd, yet mood improves.
It’s time.
I sit down, turn on my camera, say “hello!”
To the group of strangers.
Within minutes,
A participant sends a group message:
“Diana can you LinkedIn me? Let’s be friends!”
I search the Attendee List
For other Dianas
Because surely she means someone else.
But it is me she seeks.
We connect; exchange digits
Set up a one-on-one.
And today, she tells me:
“When I first saw you, I said,
‘Look at her lipstick! I need to meet this woman!’”
“And then when you started talking, that sealed it,
I said, ‘I am going to reach out!’”
And now
My new best friend and I
Have a committed coffee date cadence
And a shared hope for our futures.
All because of my
Last-minute
Power Pout.
