I wrote this encounter of passion over a year ago – it is inspired by a true story…

 Life is defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss. Well, I certainly missed out on the greatest opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to grace the catwalks of Milan, Paris and New York; to don the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, sashay in Stella McCartney and rub shoulders with the who’s who of the International Fashion Scene. And all because…I’d been bitten…by the bug of course. Independent, Feminist me, a lone Stallion, a Woman of strength, a Pioneer of the Single and Fabulous… until it happened to me… I got caught – hook, line and sinker, and it was a severe case, the worst I had ever seen, let alone experienced personally. It consumed my every thought and action, day and night, in sleep state and awake; and propelled me into very unfamiliar territory – unchartered waters, so to speak… I had fallen in love…and love bites*

 Why the distress you may want to know? Isn’t it a blessing to be shot by Cupid’s arrow and join the ranks of Ladies in love? Maybe for some, but it didn’t seem to appear on my to-do list. You know what they say though – life is what happens whilst you’re making other plans. So, love-struck and lame, so to speak, I made a detrimental decision…I declined Paris for picnics and Milan for making memories…and in retrospect;, I would erase the aforementioned chapter in its’ entirety.

The bliss lasted for the duration of a quick change at the Michael Kors Spring/Summer Collection; and in the beat of a heavy heart, romance rotated into resentment. I longed for the lure of an exotic opportunity once again, but alas I was unhappy and unemployed. Things couldn’t get worse, Romeo took his final bow and I didn’t contest his decision. I felt somewhat betrayed, by the Hero who had singlehandedly shattered my star-studded story, and stolen my shot at success. The truth is, he hadn’t taken a thing...I had willingly given it all up…all of the adventure and excitement, in exchange for sobbing and solitude, it seems. Had it been worth it? Did the pleasure outweigh the pain...would I have done it all over again?

 The conclusion… passion does not always result in pleasure, it can sometimes bring about pain; but as long as passion is present…the lesson learnt will be worth the tears. Whatever happened is the only thing that could have happened.

Turns out you are the story I needed to write, and you know what, stories don’t always end happily; but that’s not to say they don’t have happy endings. If the girl doesn’t get the guy, maybe there is a better guy for her, and her great romance is en route, having stopped off for some heartbreak along the way… Or maybe her knight needs to be wearing a different kind of armour. In Indian Spirituality, there are two principles which resound with me. Whomsoever you encounter is the right one; and this is despite the ending you had hoped for.; and what is over, is over. When something ends, it assists in our personal evolution, and propels us to our next experience…one word of advice….embrace*

In my adapted version of a poem by Mary Ann Radmacher - Live with Intention, live on the edge, listen hard, practice passion, love, play with abandon, laugh, choose with no regret, appreciate your blessings, do what you love, live as if this is all there is.

Until we meet again, practice passion and choose with no regret.

xoxo

passionista