The Gift of Celebration

Tonight was probably one of the BEST evenings I've had in a very long time.  It was refreshing and just plain 'ole fun!  After a week of many tragedies and life challenges, tonight I decided to celebrate.  Yes, Valentine's Day is just another day but for me this year was the best! Why?  Well, the gift of celebration accompanied with girl talk and a good time brought me joy and peace!!

Well, I went to a wonderful local comedy club this evening and boy I laugh!  Sidebar, let me say, I think comedians are SO cool!  Funny men are so attractive!  Give me a man who makes me laugh any day and I am in heaven!! Sorry, for the side bar!  LOL!  At any rate, anyone who knows me personally know I have a big laugh.  I laughed so much and so loud the comedian began to pick on me.  As he did, I laughed even more - the crowd begin to laugh at me because of my laughter!  LOLOLOL!!!  I enjoy laughing, it is extremely therapeutic for me.  It releases stress in my life and brings me to a calm space.  Additionally, laughter carries a healing agent and a sense of comfort along with it!  The comedians were great, the crowd was fun and the experience was something new and I embraced it with open arms!!

So, a part of the comedian's act included talking about single-hood and initially, I shouted out from the audience: "NO!"  I thought, "Man, just do your jokes and sit down."  The comedian was a single man, never been married with NO kids and he was puzzled about where to go to find good women...  First, of all, I yelled out "OMG, are you serious?!?"  And then, I begin to clap (yes, this is during his act),  I gave him a thunderous applause and begin to think, "Now, where have YOU been all my life."  Ladies, HE WAS A CUTIE!  :-)   Okay, let me focus...  Being a single woman isn't always easy, nor is it always fun (can I be real?).  Sshhh...Don't judge me.  :-)  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my independence and ability to come and go as I please.  However, I will be the first to acknowledge there are some lonely days while on the journey.  And quite frankly, the commercialism and hype of Valentine's Day can sometimes wear on you, BAM, it's right there in your face!  Before you know it, you are in a closet sobbing because you don't have that "special" someone.  The joys of single-hood!! :-)  This year, I purposed I would NOT be that girl!  I treated myself ALL DAY and made NO apologies for it!!  I love being a lady and I love being me...

I'm learning how to pursue wholeness as I date.  In other words, I am learning from each dating experience, nothing falls to the ground!  Everything counts!!!  Truly, to be single is to be whole...  The word single suggests wholeness and oneness.  As I date, I learn something new and I am grateful to be in a place to candidly share my story.  I may offend some with my transparency but this is who I am.  If I can't be me, I'm suggesting to my Creator He made a mistake when He created me.  We are all unique and special, that's just HIS way!  He gives us the personality traits and abilities.  No, I'm not perfect but I'm okay as long as I'm willing to demonstrate a desire to improve.  I'm learning to draw from the inner strength I have....the gift of celebration!  When I celebrate and love myself, it helps me to keep the right perspective as I date - a healthy one.  The dating world is not an easy one to navigate BUT it does get easier when we learn valuable lessons from the encounters we have. Life is a classroom, if we just play attention, we will advance far and learn much!  Sometimes,  I feel like men are just as confused as the women are.  However,  everyone wants love, everyone wants to feel loved by that significant "other" at the end of the day.  It's not a terrible desire, it's an honorable one!  It's a desire I believe God put within us all.   However, we have to learn how to celebrate WHERE we are in our singleness and WHO we are!

So, tonight, I embraced the gift of celebration and the joys of friendship, laughter and girl talk!  Being with trustworthy friends is a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine's Day...it ain't that bad after all!  One day, I will celebrate with Mr. Man but until then, I am learning to be content just where I am and having a BLAST while doing it!!!  Hey, I encourage you to do the same!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYBODY!!  LOVE YA!

Lending my voice,

Lady J