Door #1 or Door #2

By Thursday, January 9, 2020 3 5

I went to a club with some girlfriends when I was home for the holidays. Let me include the following facts to pepper the rarity of this occurrence: I’m 40, have 2 small kids, and get amped by a trip to Homegoods for pillow shams. So, yeah, this was rare and according to this photo, I had a lovely time at the Wild Cat:

I’m the one in the middle just living my best clubbing life. Oonch oonch oonch.

Sure, going to the Wild Cat was something to write home about, but I’d rather write home about what happened as we left. 

We lost one of our friends (the big-haired one on the right – love you!), so another friend, Emily who was also part of my Leche!!! piece, and I decided to search for her. Since there are two doors to get into the Wild Cat, we divided in order to conquer. You KNOW we were ’bout to conquer.

I went to Door #1 and explained the situation to the bouncer, who was shockingly uninterested in my plight.

“It’s a $5 cover, no exceptions,” he said.

I pushed back with a: “Really? Just to run in and look for my friend? It’ll be 5 minutes!”

“Sorry, no exceptions,” and he moved on to the babyface behind me wearing acid-washed jorts with pockets hanging out 4 inches minimum. (To whom I thought, I wore that exact outfit! When I was 13. Ooo, 40-year-old burn).

I walked back to my friends, peeved about my lack of conquer, just in time to watch Emily head to Door #2. I couldn’t hear what she said but it was a short sentence and the other bouncer waved her in. No discussion, no $5 exchange.

“GAWD DAMMMMMMMIT!!!!!” I believe were my exact words.

Of course Emily got in, Emily always gets in the door. She has always wielded her power well. I, on the other hand/at the other door, hear what sounds like a denial, get peeved, but walk away.

But not this new me. This fully woked me does not walk away because sometimes you have to push your way through the door.

I obviously thought immediately about Eleanor Roosevelt (I’ll explain later) and knew this was the Universe challenging the reality of this new me. Challenge accepted, I thought and marched back to Door #1. 

I’ve learned that I can’t pretend to be anyone I’m not so I did not pretend to be Emily. My power is different than hers. My doors open differently. I simply channeled myself, the me that is more me than me. Does that make any sense? It does to me and me.

I said: “Here’s my ID, please hold it and I’ll get it when I come out. Thanks!”

Do you know what that bouncer said? “OK,” as he grabbed my ID and moved on to the next baby face with a real deal — I kid you not — scrunchie in her hair. (To whom I thought, I also had that outfit…when I was 11. Burn!)

I walked through that door like the Queen of Sheba. I am powerful but it’s in my own way. I am not an Emily, I am a me. Yes, I like pillow shams but I also like opening doors. I refuse to walk away peeved anymore. I am stepping into the arena, which is when I thought about Teddy Roosevelt. Hmm, it appears I’m a fan of the Roosevelts?? I mean, read this quote and try NOT to get off your ass to conquer your life:

Preach, brother!

Leave it to me to pontificate over the Roosevelts when I’m supposed to be clubbing. Sometimes the arenas are small — like getting into a club for free when you’re not even wearing jorts — and sometimes they’re huge — like going fully after your scariest goal. It’s not the size that matters, just the courage behind the action.

Later that night, I sent a text about an unrelated subject to my friend — the big-haired one (really love you!) who we were looking for and who we found — and it was this:

“The moral of my 2019 story is I don’t take any bullshit without previous consent.”

When I read it the next day, I cringed a little but was in full concurrence. That really is the moral of my 2019 story. And this is where Eleanor comes in:

And preach, sister!

It’s all about consent. Life isn’t happening TO you unless you let go of the reigns and stay out of the arena. Doors are closed because you let them be closed. The bullshit exists only if I accept it; most of it comes from my own self and that’s the stuff I’m most over. That and acid-washed jorts but hey, I’m 40 so what do I know?

THINGS THEY FORGOT TO MENTION:

Life is full of Door #1 and Door #2 scenarios. Sometimes the choice is not in the door you choose, but if you dare to open them and in how you approach what you find on the other side. They also forgot to mention that some Roosevelts are my spirit animals.

3 Comments
  • Seth
    January 9, 2020

    “ I simply channeled myself, the me that is more me than me. Does that make any sense?l

    Yes, yes it does. Because the moment you channel that you you are the more you. And the more you do it the less you revert back to the old you (although that you is always you and that’s ok too).

    Man I love being 40. Old enough to know how to change and young enough to actually pull it off. Kudos to you for getting through the door.

    • Sunna
      January 10, 2020

      Exxxxxxactly, Seth. The more I do it, the more I become that real me. Changing habits, pushing through doors, stepping into the arena. 40 is me on fire. Let’s do this!

    • Sunna
      January 10, 2020

      Also, I may steal that “Old enough to know how to change and young enough to actually pull it off” for my book. I’ll give you credit 🙂

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