Party Animal

Self Portrait Series 13/52

I LOVE a good party - not just any old get together - but a REAL party. The more elaborate the better!

I don’t know if it’s my love for tradition, my people pleasing nature, or something else, but whenever I get to plan a party I get so excited! I delight in an opportunity to craft a shared experience for the people I care about. Food is my love language, so planning a great spread is on of my favorite parts. Music is another passion of mine, so compiling the perfect playlist is a joy. I even like to set the mood for the party by planning the lighting in advance. I love the setting up and the taking down - every little part of it.

By far, the best part of any party is getting together with my loved ones and having fun in a different way. Any excuse to enjoy time with the people I love is what I'm all about. Parties just add another layer of excitement to any gathering. It usually means we’re celebrating something, or someone, special. Celebrating anything together always brings us closer together. It’s great to create unique memories that stand out from our day-to-day interactions. 

I’m also a sucker for a themed party. Whether it’s a prim and proper tea party or an 80s hair band throwback, I’m here for it! One of my favorite types of parties is a good old fashioned murder mystery dinner party. I love them so much that I even wrote one a few years back. I had found that it's really hard to be part of the fun when you're the host because most games require the host to know who the murderer is beforehand. I wanted to be able to play too, so I wrote my own where I could both host and play. The murderer is a different character every time, so I never know who it’s gonna be! 

Party planning is also kind of therapeutic for me. Anytime I’m feeling down or gloomy or lonely, I can snap out of it by starting to plan a party. The thought of getting people together that I love instantly gives me passion. It gives me a project and it gets me thinking outside of myself. It's serving other people in a way that everybody loves.

Growing up, I was always considered the life of the party. It was easy for me to strike up a conversation with anyone, so I’d make the rounds and meet everyone. However, over the last year or two I’ve developed some social anxiety around large gatherings. Depending on the circumstances, parties have become a scary thing for me. As I've begun to live a more public life, I’ve found that I’m getting way more private in my real life. I’m still a party animal and I still love getting together, but I’m also recognizing that there are certain people I’d rather be around, and my circle is getting smaller instead of larger. I’m not sure how I feel about that yet, but this self portrait project has been all about connecting with myself more, and recognizing the difference between the things I truly like and the things I’m trying to make myself like. I’m also recognizing the parts of me that are changing.

Are you a party animal, too? Would you rather host or attend? Do all the holiday parties fill your cup or leave you feeling drained? Tell me all about it in the comments!

xoxo,

Abi