One thing I’ve come to deeply respect as I’ve gotten older is a woman who isn’t afraid to be seen as “mean.” Because truthfully, she’s usually not mean at all, she’s just clear. Clear about what she’ll tolerate, what she values, and how she expects to be treated. She’s not bending over backward to make everyone comfortable or explaining herself just to seem “nice.” I used to think being liked was the goal, but I’ve learned that being respected, and at peace, feels so much better. There’s something quietly powerful about a woman who stands firm in who she is, even when people misread her confidence as attitude.