This week, I tweeted from @golazygirlz, “NEW YEAR, NEW YOU”.  However, in order to get cranked up to getting the “new you” up and running, you’ve got to get motivated.  So, this post is about having the confidence to get so motivated, but first I wanted to tell you a little story.

I’m guessing about 20 years ago or so, I got invited to a bachelorette party in Beverly Hills.  We all loaded into a stretch, black limo to head off to a swanky restaurant.  In the limo, I was sitting across from the pretty, blonde bachelorette.  This successful saleswoman looked much younger than her actual age and she was about to marry a very, very handsome, younger man. What struck me is she had her long blonde hair fashioned Barbie-style with an insouciant pigtail sticking out the top left side of her head.

Out of pleasant curiosity, I asked “why do you have that pigtail sticking out the side of your head?”.  And she said – wait for it – “BECAUSE I CAN”.

Holy smokes.  BECAUSE.  I.  CAN.  And you know what, she was right.  She could get away with that extremely youthful, quasi-bimbo look and she didn’t care; it was her party and she was out to have a good time and if she wanted to express herself with a piquant little pigtail, so be it.

I just loved her answer and I might add, it cracked us all up in the limo that festive night.  Her answer was audacious, it was bold and it was accompanied by an avalanche of devil-may-care self-confidence.

So, do you think you can lose weight or set your mind to whatever goal your heart seeks this year?  Answer: you betcha.  Because.  You.  Can.

Back to my story – and I know this is a bit anti-climactic, but it was a very memorable evening and I’d like to share it.  The restaurant was loaded with old guys seeking young hotties which was a yucky turn-off, and the steaks were so expensive, we ended up splitting 3 to a steak, to the utterly withering looks of the waiter.  But we did have fun, and Ms. Pigtail had set the buoyant tone for the entire evening.

Now, for every “because I can”, there may be a corollary of “because I can’t”.  In Hollywood recently, I saw a 50+, buxom woman with chunky legs and waist-length, badly-bleached blonde hair prancing around in fake UGG’s and short shorts.  Yikes.  Of course, one can chalk up that one to being in “Holly-weird”!

My aunt, who was quite the fashion maven in her day, once said, “if you think you look ridiculous [in your outfit], you do”.   Amen to that!  I mean, think about it.  If you don’t have the confidence to carry off a certain look, or you don’t feel comfortable in a certain look, especially a trendy look, then you probably shouldn’t wear it.  This is undoubtedly why I’ve decided I don’t like strapless dresses on myself, because even though they look nice, I’m always tugging them up, thinking about them possibly slipping down.  I’m uncomfortable in the look, so I know it’s not for me.  And pigtails on me would be just plain silly!

And now, I’d like to end on a positive note…because I can!