Amy McVay Abbott Wrote About Her Fiftieth Birthday Party

For The Girlfriend,  Amy McVay Abbott wrote about how at her fiftieth birthday party, she did an activity where she gave speeches about the impact each guest had on her. In her essay, she describes this activity as very emotional and powerful. The activity helped her reflect on her connection to her community and mother. She writes, “By giving away the joy, I made it one of the happiest days of my life.”

Abbott told Study Hall,  “As a journalist trained the old school way with “I” in the story, writing a personal essay is always a challenge for me. However, writing this piece about my fiftieth birthday party where I turned the tables on the guests was a joy. Instead of celebrating myself, I honored all the important women in my life. Of course, I stole the idea from Oprah, but who cares?” 

Abbott’s writing has appeared in Business Insider, Next Avenue, and other outlets.