This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.
That’s me with the cold compress, in my bed, the morning after a night out in college that included a break-up and one too many chocolate martinis. I’m sure I was in my going out “uniform” consisting of tight black pants and a tube top and body glitter (because the 90s). I can look at it and remember exactly how I felt in that moment. Sadness, despair, heartbreak, nausea. All the things a college girl (Go Gators ????) would feel in that scenario.
I’m pretty sure my friends are reading a highly emotional, overly dramatic “fuck you” letter I must have penned, post break-up (See!?! Even then I was a writer ????). That day I felt like my life was changed forever and didn’t know how I would rebound. But in the scheme of things, it wasn’t. I rebounded just fine. And many times after that too. It was such small potatoes compared to anything I have experienced in adulthood. You just don’t realize it when you’re 21 with such a small frame of reference for life experiences.
I can honestly look at this picture, 21 years later and laugh. When you are in the thick of drama it feels like the walls are crumbling around you, and I think that’s true for every stage of your life and the challenges that come with those stages. I wish I could go back and hug the 21-yr-old me and tell her that this will one day be a tiny blip on the radar. I also wish I could tell her to chill the fuck out with the chocolate martinis.
If you’re in that place right now, hold tight and know that it will pass, you’ll pick yourself up, dust yourself off and be ok. You’ll rebound. And may all the body glitter Rest In Peace
