Last month was one of my favorite holidays, May 5^th, also known as Cinco de Mayo. On that day in 1862, the Mexican militia was victorious over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. It’s also the day I broke up with my boyfriend, Rene in 2006. He was Mexican and so it just felt like a good day to do it…

Okay, not really…it just happened that way. But I think breaking up with people on holidays is probably the best way to go about it. Because then you know there will be a celebration of some sort and people will be celebrating, somewhere. So the receiver of the “it’s not you, it’s me” can either ruin the party (which wouldn’t be very diplomatic) or forget about you, because they’re having so much fun at said celebration.

Then again, they may choose to eat a quarter pound bacon cheeseburger, chug chocolate milkshakes in their bedroom alone, watch re-runs of “The Wonder Years” and not go anywhere at all…

But at least you gave them an option.

So, that year, in full Aleeza Solowitz style, I headed to my Jewish friend’s, Cinco de Mayo party in Beverly Glen and had an amazing time celebrating Mexico’s, and my own, independence. People were asking if I had really just broken up with my boyfriend. I was dancing, laughing and throwing back Coronitas like those Mexicans probably did when they kicked the French’s ass back in 1862.

It’s all about the perception…of course the next day when the party is over, reality hits, along with a headache…it’s quite an awakening experience, but at least you had fun. Breaking up shouldn’t be mourned with bacon and hormone injected meat. It should be celebrated, because it means you finished writing one chapter and you’re onto a new one. So many things are possible. You’re free. There’s a quote that is one of my favorites by nun turned author, Monica Baldwin, it goes: “The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn’t matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.”

Possibilities when you have that sense of freedom (once you get over the hang-over) are limitless.

Today I went to visit my dad at his bakery in Montebello, we chatted, caught up and then we went to lunch. During lunch my dad got a phone call from my brother telling him that he had broken up with his girlfriend. They had actually just celebrated their one-year anniversary and moved into a cute little place in Culver City a month before…

Can I get a “whoops”!? I got on the phone with him to tell him to stay strong like Napoleon III did. I didn’t tell you this before but Napoleon sent over 30,000 more French troops after he heard about Mexico’s victory and they would eventually depose the Mexican army in the end. I hope you get my point…even though independence may happen in spurts, it still exists, it’s still victorious in it’s own right and you should revel in it.

Breaking up with my ex-boyfriend was the best thing I ever could have done, even though it took some time, family, Coronitas, and good friends to support me through all of it. When you go from coupledom to singledom (both kingdoms in their own right), all of a sudden your life is missing something; your job is to just fill it up.

Imagine yourself going to one of those full service gas station attendants and rolling down you power window as you sit in your car and tell him with a confident fist bump, “Fill’er up, please.” It may cost a few bucks extra, but in the end your new single car, can ride off into the sunset and go the road less traveled.

Contrary to popular belief, the single kingdom is not one of sickness. In my case, my ex made me a slave to our relationship in-fact, I couldn’t see my friends, I couldn’t wear a low cut top, he wanted me to dress like a Saudi…and I did. Finally after hearing all of my family and long lost friends tell me they missed the real Aleeza, the happy one, the life of the party, I began to miss her too!

Like the talented songwriters Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt wrote in their 1994 hit song, Missing...”Like the deserts miss the rain.” I wanted myself, my self, back.

Looking back I know that it was the best decision of my life: if I were still with Rene I would be married with three kids, weigh 300 lbs. (without my shoes on) and be hand making corn tortillas with his mother and her beer pounding girlfriends in a kitchen somewhere in East LA. Believe it.

So to top all this history and personal information off, June has finally arrived along with the sun, the beach and family and friends with moments to be had. Enjoy yourselves, whether coupled up and happy or single and free. Life is inevitable; happiness is optional. I give you my blessing: make the choice to be happy.

When I was a teenager, summer was the thing we all looked forward to, crossing off squares in the Lisa Frank calendar my mom bought me, visions of summer love like that of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John actually seemed possible. In reality, anything is possible. Isn’t that wonderful?

Now go out and make it happen.