Amy Venezia

 

 

 

 

Friday night I had friends in town.

 

 

Friends I have had for over a decade, friends that have been with me through thick and thin.

 

 

They are the kind of friends who roll large…limo’s and champagne…best wine and food and no shortage of laughter.

 

 

Generous friends, that yell out “The Queen” whenever I walk in the room…and treat me with that kind of respect.

 

 

Friday night, I didn’t feel like going out.

 

 

I have been in a metamorphosis of sorts. I have had two years of the kind of fun that could be incorporated into a Sex and The City episode.

 

 

But as with everything in life, it is a pendulum swing. And the last couple of months, I have been called to more balance-

 

 

In all areas of my life.

 

 

After leaving my last long term relationship- close to five years long- I needed fun. I needed lightness. I needed laughter. I needed to be reminded I was still a sexy woman. I needed to turn heads and flirt without intention. I needed to know life could be light again.

 

 

I needed a break from the depths I had been swimming in.

 

 

But there is only so much affirmation that can come from outside of you.

 

 

Then life says, “Ok…enough now. You got the message- time to go within.”

 

 

And that is where I was at Friday night …that and a little under the weather.

 

 

I hesitantly put on my little black dress, sported my new Betsy Johnson stilettos -straightened my hair with a little crown of braids- took a deep breath and walked out the door into the limo waiting for me outside.

 

 

There were my friends- and immediately my mind got off of my physical ailments and I started to enjoy the night.

 

 

We arrived at the restaurant and had a lot of fun. But I was conscious throughout the night that a chapter in my life was closing.

 

 

I looked around me and just couldn’t vibe with it anymore. Granted, I didn’t feel good. But it wasn’t that. It was me, deciding it is time for a new chapter.

 

 

 

I smiled at my friends and the champagne and the laughs- looked around and thought to myself…

 

 

 

“ Amy, this is the equivalent to your bachelorette party.”

 

 

 

I never had one of those. I was married at a young age and didn’t even drink alcohol at the time. I didn’t have a “one last shebang party”.

 

 

 

The kind of party that is out with the old to bring in the new.

 

 

 

Friday night represented that for me…

 

 

 

The only constant in life is change…and where there is change , there is growth.

 

 

 

And where there is growth- there you will find balance.

 

 

 

I like balance. 

 

 

 

So as I walked out of the restaurant I ran into a friend who said, “ What is the occasion Ms. Thang?”..

 

 

 

I replied back, “ A bachelorette party!”-

 

 

 

He asked, “ Who is getting married?”

 

 

 

I said, “ I am!”

 

 

 

Wide eyed and in complete shock, he asked, “ TO WHOM???!!”

 

 

“ To me…”- I replied back with a little wink as I slid into the limo.

 

 

Life is good…every moment.

 

 

Every turn-

 

 

 

 Every hill and every valley-

 

 

 

And every choice…

 

 

Make it a beautiful life.