Embrace the Chaos: Why Bridget Jones is My Spirit Animal (Oversized Pants, Wobbly Bits, and All)

I adore Bridget Jones. Not just because she’s charmingly flawed or because her life is authentically chaotic, but because she’s precisely the kind of person I aspire to be—fictional or not. Bridget embodies life and love in all its messy forms, embracing her wobbly bits, wrinkles, oversized pants, old bras, and facing life's absurdities head-on with bravery and most importantly of all, a larger-than-life sense of humor.

This is weird I know…but I was making my birthday wish, right as we were watching Bridget in all her fabulous glory!

I recently watched the latest film, “About a Boy,” where Bridget experiences profound loss with the tragic death of her husband, Mark Darcy (the still sexy Colin Firth.) Now she must endure painfully awkward dinners with his family on the anniversary of his death, confronting uncomfortable questions about her future and judgments about her being "washed up" at "a certain age" with two young kids.

Moving On with Sexy "Garbologist"

Bridget's journey hilariously captures the necessity and pain of moving forward in your early fifties when your wardrobe looks like it time-travelled from 2003: moth-eaten cardis, underwear that's more grey than white, and a general vibe of 'laundry basket chic'. Her love affair with Roxter (the One Day stud Leo Woodall), a charming and incredibly sexy garbage specialist (yes, really), becomes the bridge she needs to confidently embrace her new chapter. Roxter’s adventurous spirit, carefree nature, and ridiculously toned 8-pack-abs help Bridget rediscover joy, eventually leading her towards a more grounded, fulfilling relationship with Mr. Walliker, the sensible headmaster of her children's school. Bridget aptly notes, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.” Honestly, who needs wisdom from the Dalai Lama or Mark Twain when Bridget is serving pure, relatable truth? She is clearly the modern philosopher I didn’t know I desperately needed.

Laughter, Authenticity, and Condom Catastrophes

Amid life's inevitable chaos, Bridget finds humor in the most awkward situations, such as buying multiple types of condoms only to find her child's headmaster directly behind her, or casually discussing vagina reseals (I admit, I had to Google whether that is actually a thing: it is not, thank God!) and abrasions over drinks. Or the time her lips puffed up into balloon-sized sausages thanks to an allergic reaction and she could only speak with a tragic, whistling lisp. Or when she accidentally blurted out to a live studio audience that she'd had the best shag of her life the night before, with, you guessed it, Garbage Boy. These hilariously embarrassing moments highlight Bridget's authentic resilience and ability to laugh at herself, a quality we could all use more of today.

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously (Especially at a Certain Age)

One of the film’s standout lines, "Did you say a certain age, out loud?" addresses society's quiet yet persistent nudging toward conformity once one crosses over the 35 year old mark, and definitely when one becomes a parent. Bridget, however, refuses to take these pressures seriously, boldly defying societal expectations simply by being herself. In the original 2001 movie, Bridget announces, "I have two choices: to give up and accept permanent state of spinsterhood and eventual eating by alsatians, or not. And this time I choose not. I will not be defeated by a bad man and an American stick insect! Instead, I choose vodka. And Chaka Khan." Words to live by!

She shamelessly Macarenas through breakfast prep, rocks school drop-offs in Christmas-themed flannel pajamas (no judgment), and boldly bulldozes her way through awkward misadventures, like accidentally volunteering for career day or strutting into work with unmistakable morning-after-sex hair (own it, Bridget).

This movie also alerts us to the fact that men "of a certain age" can literally drop dead at any moment, so seize the day, enjoy every moment, and always have a good emergency contact ready to dash to your hospital bedside. Bridget did exactly that for Daniel, her notorious crush and all-around fuckwit (her words, not mine), who, after a lifetime of terrible decisions, had nobody else to list as his next of kin on the hospital intake form.

What Even Is a Certain Age?

"A certain age"—what does that even mean? To some, it signals you're washed up, irrelevant, closer to death, and might as well hang up your boots (and libido) for good. It whispers that your best days are behind you, that meaningful contributions to society are for the younger, shinier, louder people. But I say bollocks to that!

I prefer to embrace the Pro-Age mantra: aging isn’t a curse—it’s a badge of honor. The Pro-Age Movement redefines aging as something powerful, celebrating wisdom, confidence, and authenticity rather than treating it like a problem to be solved. It’s about embracing every stage of life, challenging stereotypes, and living in a way that enhances vitality and connection. It celebrates the fact that we’ve survived, endured, and frankly, flourished. During this stage, some people even go a step further by throwing a Crone Ceremony, which is not my jam, but I would love to see Bridget being crowned a Queen Crone!

Like Bridget, I am not giving up. In fact, quite the opposite. My ability to give fewer f*cks is just getting started. So watch out, world, we’re only getting bolder, louder, and more unapologetically ourselves. And we’re probably doing it in granny pants and smudged, uneven eyeliner, but we’re doing it nonetheless.

Accepting the Unexpected Chaos

One particularly relatable scene is when Bridget signed up to be a chaperone for the school's Outward Bound trip, immediately triggering traumatic flashbacks to my own teenage Outward Bound nightmare in Wales at 16. A torturer named Gary woke us up at 5 AM, forcing us to build a raft to cross a freezing river, because obviously, that's a life skill. Seriously, Gary, what the actual fuck was that about? Because clearly, raft-building at dawn was the critical life skill I desperately needed. Thanks for nothing, Gary!

Ultimately, Bridget Jones teaches us to embrace life's unpredictability with openness and courage. Life is messy, chaotic, and often downright embarrassing, but within that chaos lies strength, humor, friendship, and love. In our increasingly unpredictable world, let’s follow Bridget’s example and face each day with authenticity, laughter, and courage—wobbly bits, wrinkles, dusted-off vaginas, and all. Yes, I know I’ve banged on about wobbly bits like a broken record, but honestly, they deserve the airtime. I’m making a point here, people!

Shoutout to the Girlfriends Who Keep Me Sane

Let's not forget the importance of great girlfriends, who've witnessed every cringe-worthy moment, celebrated every success, and comforted me through every tragic failure and disappointment. Who else has woken up with breadsticks tangled in their hair after a particularly rowdy Saturday night out on the town? A special fan of this Subtack, knows exactly what I am talking about! 😉

A huge, Bridget-sized thank you to my ladies who've stuck around through all my ages, awkward phases, and questionable choices. You know who you are, and I couldn't face this chaotic world without you. I realize I also use the word 'chaotic' like it’s seasoning, sprinkled generously over every sentence. But honestly, it fits. What else are we supposed to call this beautiful, ridiculous, unpredictable madness that is life?

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Lessons Learned:

• Life is messy, chaotic, and embarrassing—but authenticity makes it meaningful.

• Surround yourself with those who accept and love you as you are.

• Laughter is essential; embrace humor even in difficult situations.

• Age and societal expectations shouldn't dictate your authenticity.

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