Being a Bada$$ vs. Being a Bride

(Sorry for the swears in the title... I was hopping that the dollar signs would make it less offensive. If you don't like the word badass, please skip this post. See you soon!)

Ok, now that that's out of the way, we can get to the point of this post. I have recently gotten re-involved in my very very favorite sport. Roller Derby:

So I am not actually roller derbying here just goofing off.

When Mr. Aardvark and I moved a few months ago I had to give it up, or face a three hour commute to and from the rink. While I love the sport, that much car-time and wedding planning and working full time was a no-go. But I missed it SOOOOOO much. Lucky for me, I found a new team that was just getting of the ground and was located a convenient 30 minutes away. SIGN ME UP!

Now, while I don't claim to be the most badass chick, or even a highly badass chick. I believe, and I hope you agree, that there is a minimum amount of badassery required to play any contact sport, including roller derby. This is becasue there are risks involved. Mostly risks of rink-rash on your hip, or bruises on your bicep, but occasionally the risks are greater, like breaking bones or black eyes.  Knowing this, but loving the sport anyway is what makes someone a badass.

With all this in mind. I recently posted a flyer on my facebook wall about an up-coming bout. Two of my non-derby friends quickly commented that I should be careful because of my fast approaching (15 days!) wedding. While it is true that I don't want a black eye in my wedding pictures, and hobbling through a first dance on crutches would be a drag, I felt like their concern was a bit of an overreaction.

One of the things Mr. Aardvark loves about me is that I am a badass (or that I try to be one). Why would I give that up pre-wedding? And if I did, how far would it go. People get hurt in cars all the time. Do I stop driving? Stop wearing heels for fear of rolling an ankle? Stop handling paper products for fear of cuts? Stop eating at restaurants for fear that someone will choke on a chicken bone, get the heimlich and shoot the chicken bone at my face, blinding me for life?? Ok so the last one may not be SUPER likely, but you get the point.

There are inherent risks in every single thing we do. In some cases it is the risk that makes them enjoyable. No matter what happens, Mr. Aardvark will be marrying me, not some super polished, air-brushed perfect version of myself with no flaws. Often times, it's the stories behind all the little scrapes and bumps that makes us who we are: a badass.

So ladies (or gentlemen) you don't have to decided between badass or bride, you can be both! I say, if it isn't harmful to the marriage, it won't be harmful to the wedding.

Do you think of yourself as a badass? Have you been warned to cut back on anything "for the wedding"?