Brenda Viola
It hit me like a ton of bricks this weekend.
Remember what it felt like when you first fell in love? Every song on the radio was YOUR song. The littlest thing put a wide smile on your face. You bounced a little as you walked and the small stuff? No sweat!
I love a love story. This whole Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce matchup has me rooting for a live proposal at the SuperBowl. I wept through The Golden Bachelor (and yes, I applied for the next season.) Give me a sappy Hallmark movie, and I puddle.
But these years since Mark's transition have been an exercise in learning to be alone with myself.
Truth be told, I kicked and screamed and worked every angle to fast forward through this chapter. Bumble, Hinge, J-Date, The League, and even Tinder can attest to my razor sharp focus on getting to what I thought would be the good part; my "happily ever after."
Nope. Met some nice people. Some creeps. And then...crickets.
Sigh.
Perhaps I waved a spiritual white flag without realizing it.
Going to the gym everyday. Wildly dancing with new friends. Being alcohol-free and still slaying on karaoke night. Petting puppy dogs and talking to random babies. Interviewing beautiful souls for my podcast. Savoring a sauna and clean sheets on the bed.
Instead of waiting for someone to ask me, I took myself on dates.
Like this weekend!
Th
I chose the scenic route on my way home from a jaunt to LA to see Chaka Khan in concert (and yes, I belted "I'm Every Woman" as if I were the performer).
Around a bend, this greeted me:
A
As if the Divine pulled a fast one and announced, "Ta da!" this stunning scene took me by surprise.
Even more surprising, I burst into tears.
(Yes, I pulled over.)
These were a new kind of tears.
Tears of gratitude.
Truly, I felt awestruck by this beautiful playground called earth. And I get to cart myself around and have adventures!
Reflecting on the weekend, I recalled the spring in my step as I wandered around Manhattan Beach. Singing at the bar on the Sunset Strip while enjoying a ginger mocktail. Connecting with Uber drivers and bartenders and the random lucky person that got to sit next to me (cause you KNOW they were going to get a blast of joy.)
As I left one ultra-chic venue, the gorgeous model-like woman at the reception area said to me, "You are a queen."
I stopped in my tracks.
Me?
She looked like Margot Robbie!
"You walked in here by yourself and owned it. You are #goals."
A few months ago, I would have perhaps forced myself to go out and fought the voices in my head that said, "loser" for being alone.
But now?
I am a queen.
Because I am in love.
With my life.
PS. Should Andrew Huberman read this post and find himself captivated by my queenness, I would not be opposed to including him in my adventures.
Hey! Even queens are human.
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