The Perks of Being a Bad Girl

One of the most startling changes during my divorce was my self perception. That may sound strange but when I was married I was a good girl. I was a good wife. I understood my role and made the best of my marital life. I played by the rules.
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"There are no good girls gone wrong, just bad girls found out." -- Mae West

One of the most startling changes during my divorce was my self-perception. That may sound strange but when I was married I was a good girl. I was a good wife. I understood my role and made the best of my marital life. I played by the rules.

I fulfilled expectations as a soccer mom, school volunteer and as a friend and business wife. I wouldn't call myself a trophy wife as that would suggest I spent many hours primping and looking beautiful while ordering around the help. I was far from that. But I was a good girl. I did as I was told for the most part. Maybe I wasn't told so much as silently expected to entertain business associates and volunteer for my children's activities and school. I would also include family relations as having a certain expectation of me as not only the daughter and sister but as the wife of my family's business partner. Sounds limiting doesn't it? Looking back, I realize how far I've come.

My self-perception began to change immediately following my separation. I was breaking the rules. I was doing the unthinkable; I was leaving my husband. Some people were accepting but others were horrified. "Where are you going to live?" "What are you going to do?" "You might be bi-polar" "You should think this through" were some of the questions and comments coming to me.

For the record, I had thought the decision through for a few years. It was not something I ever took lightly.

The marital status change allowed me to get back to the girl I used to know. It gave me the freedom to be the bad girl... with all the negative connotations involved. Of course, I remained involved with my children's activities and school but my role there was reduced due to the shared parenting arrangement. Ironically, when I say 'bad girl' I mean it in the mildest sense of the word. 'Bad Girl Refutes Wifely Role' the headlines would read, with my picture to the left. I no longer had restrictions and expectations placed on me.

What are the perks of being a bad girl? Let's start with this quote:

"Most of us are only bad girls in our dreams. But there's a pattern in the bad girl lifestyle that deserves contemplation. Bad girls buy what they want to buy, eat what they want to eat, wear what they want to wear, sleep when they want to sleep. Bad girls do not have therapists because they don't need them. Instead bad girls have housekeepers and masseuses." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's really that simple. Bad girls don't give a s**t what everyone else 'thinks'. Bad girls are really good at self care. They know exactly what they want and they go for it. Want to be a bad girl with Marilyn and me?
2014-11-28-marilynbethebadgirl.jpg

TIPS for being The Bad Girl...

-Be strong

-get PHYSICAL

-RE-CONNECT with your FAVORITES; music, movies, clothing styles, food

-RE-IGNITE your DREAMS; travel, men, goals, passion

-give yourself PERMISSION to make MISTAKES-it's okay to be wrong

-STOP apologizing

-START listening to your voice

-EMBRACE your inner sex goddess

-BEND THE RULES to make them work for you

-learn to SAY 'NO'

Fictional & Real Life Bad Girl Inspirations;

Bridget Jones,
Lisbeth Salander (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo),
Samantha (Sex in the City),
Joan Jett,
Kalinda (The Good Wife),
Madonna,
Rita Hayworth,
Natalie Maines

One of the gifts of divorce is to allow us the freedom to be the bad girl. After a long hiatus you can enjoy the perks of being the bad girl. After all, if you are the one to end the marriage then it comes with the territory. You're not following the rules "'til death do us part". You're on your way, so take it to the finish line...be the Bad Girl.

Did your self perception change during divorce? Do you feel like the 'Bad Girl'?

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