This Is What Power Looks Like: A Love Letter to Women Over 40

Let’s get something straight: aging is not a curse. It’s a privilege. And for women, it can be a revolution.

Yet, too often I see women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond shrinking themselves. Dimming their light. Walking with their heads down like they’re embarrassed for having lived. Why? Because we’ve been told that our value declines with age. That our beauty fades. That our moment has passed.

We’ve been taught to be grateful for the background. To blend in. To soften our voice and our presence just as we’re hitting our stride.

I call BS.

Over 40? You’re in Your Prime (Yes, Right Now)

There’s a myth that the “prime of life” happens in your 20s or 30s. But the real truth? The older we get, the more we know. The more we heal. The more we own who we are.

We’re not just aging—we’re rising. Our power isn’t loud or flashy unless we want it to be. It’s steady. Rooted. Magnetic.

By the time we hit midlife and beyond, many of us have fought hard for the peace we carry. We’ve processed pain. We’ve learned to say no. We’ve unlearned the lies. Our radiance isn’t tied to anyone else’s opinion anymore—it’s something we generate from the inside out.

And still… we hesitate.

Why Are We Still Shrinking?

It’s not because we’re unsure of ourselves. In fact, many older women are deeply grounded internally. We’ve done the work. We’ve become wise, intuitive, clear.

But something strange happens when we step into the world: insecurity creeps in—not from inside, but from outside conditioning. We’ve been bombarded with images that say youth is beauty, and beauty is worth. So we question ourselves.

We second-guess the outfit that makes us feel bold. We hesitate to speak up in the meeting. We hold our breath when we look in the mirror. We wonder if we’re “too much”—or maybe “not enough.”

And that’s where the dimming begins.

Don’t Fade—Lead

Let’s be clear: the world needs us. And we need each other.

Younger women need us—not to preach, not to perfect, but to model what it looks like to be grounded, joyful, and unapologetically whole. To walk into a room and own it without explanation. To speak with clarity. To love our bodies even when the world tells us not to.

That’s real beauty. And real leadership.

And older women need to see each other shine. We need reminders. Mirrors. Proof that it’s okay to stand tall, laugh loudly, wear what we want, take up space, and be seen.

Take Your Seat. Then Turn the Lights On.

If you’ve spent decades surviving, healing, raising others, or rebuilding—this is your time to live fully. Out loud. With no shame, no apologies, and no damn invisibility cloak.

There’s nothing more magnetic than a woman who is rooted in her wisdom and no longer waiting for permission.

So take your seat at the table. But don’t just sit there—turn the lights on. Let others see what’s possible.

And if you’re not quite ready to leap into the spotlight, that’s okay. Start with the small things. Because reclaiming your shine doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be real.

Small Ways to Reclaim Your Shine

If you’ve been quieting yourself for a long time, stepping back into your full presence might feel like too much all at once. That’s okay. You don’t have to go from invisible to Beyoncé overnight.

Here are a few small, powerful ways to start:

Wear the bold lipstick. Even if it’s just for errands.
Post the picture you love—the one where you look radiant, not perfect.
Speak your truth in a conversation where you’d usually stay quiet.
Start the creative project you’ve been dreaming about (and don’t worry if it’s “too late”).
Say thank you instead of deflecting compliments.
Walk with your head up—even if it feels unnatural at first.
Reach out to another woman your age and tell her she inspires you.
Join or create a circle of women who are also done playing small.

The goal is not to be loud. The goal is to be real. To take up space in the way that feels most true to you.

Your Glow Is Contagious

Every time you show up fully, you give permission to someone else to do the same. When we shine, we light the way—not just for the next generation, but for each other.

Imagine a world where older women stopped apologizing and started radiating. Where we danced boldly. Spoke wisely. Laughed loudly. Led joyfully. That world starts with us.

So no more shrinking. No more playing nice with the systems that want us to fade quietly into the background.

This is your moment. Your season. Your light.

Don’t hide it. Shine on, queen.

~ Maggie Hernandez-Knight