New Beginnings

This weekend was really tiring for me. I worked so hard and I feel exhausted. I helped my coach with her house on Friday and Saturday, and then on Sunday I helped moved my sister into her new place.
After the work was done, though, I felt a renewed sense of energy and motivation. Things were neat, clean, and organized. I know that they are both in a good place now to start the "semester" off right.

I took that energy and applied it to my own place. Now that September is almost here, its time to "sharpen up our pencils" and get ready for the year ahead. All around us, people are preparing for "back to school". I'm joining in with them and getting ready to pound the pavement. I organized my place, from all of my writng materials, to my headshots and resumes, to interaction notebooks to important letters. If I want to move forward with my goals, its important for me to have my things neat and organized.

Its a new "school year", a new beginning. Its the perfect time to get clear on what we want to accomplish in the next few months, and devise a clear strategy for achieving those goals. Let's use these last few days of summer to get super organized and prepared for "back to school".

Jenn

Eat Pray Love

So the other nite I went to go see "Eat Pray Love". It stars Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. I'm watching every dollar these days but this was a must see. So I scrounged up some dollars and walked over to the theater and guess what?- it was free candy nite!! (No oreos, though.) I had read the book when it first came out and was so excited when I heard that it was being made into a film. I loved it!

I know that a lot of people have said that they dont really like the story- that "Liz" seems a bit self-indulgent and inconsiderate. But while I definitely sympathized with the husband who was left behind,(he was SOO pathetic!), I felt more inspired and motivated by Liz' choice to set out on her own and "find herself". She chose to put herself first and be happy. That was a brave thing to do. And the ironic thing is that,once she did that, thats when she found true love!!

For those of you who dont know the story, its about a woman named Liz who decides to leave her husband, her job, her family behind and just go traveling for a year. She goes to three places: Italy (Where she EATS), India (WHere she PRAYS), and Indonesia (where she finds LOVE). While most of us dont have the luxury of doing what this woman did, we can defintely learn a lot from her experiences. Thruout her travels, Liz learns about forgiveness, letting go, appreciating life, helping others, loving someone, and most of all, loving herself.

One of my favorite scenes in the film was when Liz and her friends are at a pizza parlor in Italy. Her friend wants to eat more pizza but denies herself because shes trying to lose her "muffin top". (most women know what that is). Julia then goes on to deliver this very empowering monologue about just letting go and being ourselves. About not being controlled by other peoples thoughts or opinions of us. About how we spend so much of our lives trying to please other people but in the end its us who pay the price.

I could go on and on about all of the other "messages" in the film, but that would bore you. So I'll just repeat that it was a GREAT film and if you are able to, you shoudl go out and see it. Besides, Javier BArdem is in it, what more reason do you need? :)
Jenn

Happy Monday

This morning I ran for 45 minutes. It felt great. I am really beginning to love it. I am less focused on the result and more focused on the feeling it gives me- I love the feel of my heart pounding, my deep breathing. It gives me so much energy for the rest of the day. On my lunch break I walked and then I walked home from work. I also spent some time downloading some new songs from itunes- which will hopefully keep me going on the treadmill. I cooked myself a healthy dinner and packed a healthy lunch for tomorrow.
Took care of budget stuff, scheduled my next editing session, communicated with family members, spoke to my agent. Its been a full day.

Im off to go on a date now. Cross your fingers for me.

Have you done your five things today? :)
Jenn

Lobster Anyone?

A few pics from recent beach trips with my sister. I have no idea how to change the date on my camera, so you'll have to just trust me on that one.
Too lazy to label each, but most of you can tell us apart by now.

And yes, we forgot the sunblock. :)

A Very Wise Yoga Teacher

Out of all of the yoga teachers that I am currently studying with, my favorite by far is my Sunday nite teacher. For the purposes of this blog, I'll call her Laura.

Laura is just so amazing. She is kind, compassionate, gentle and inspiring. Just walking into the room you feel an energy coming from her that is soothing, welcoming, and comforting. Her skill at yoga is admirable and inspiring, particularly because she is eight months pregnant! I want to be able to do what she does when I have kids!!

At the beginning of each yoga class, most teachers bring a thought or an idea to focus on during the class, or a purpose to dedicate your practice to. Tonite, Laura shared this idea with us: "It is our persistence and commitment that brings us success, not skill. When we come from a place of love and positive energy, all good things happen. So we can let go of the result, because the result will take care of itself. Just focus on showing up and doing the work, and the rest will fall into place." These words really resonated with me tonite.

I had a big disappointment this week. There was a project that I really wanted to do. I thought for sure that "it was meant to be". The director was someone who was very reputable with a lot of experience. The role was one I had done before and the play was close to my heart. I was fearless and I took bold steps and reached out. It would have been one step closer to LA. it would have opened so many doors.

It didnt happen. For whatever reason, it just didnt. And it kinda sucks. :(

The "owie" has already started to go away and I've already moved my focus to the next thing. Its the only thing I can do. Like Laura says, it is my persistence and commitment that will bring me success. If not this time, then the next one. I just have to trust and keep on moving forward.

I know the artists reading this have been where I am tonite, so I am hoping that in reading this, you too, will find comfort and strength to keep going.

Jenn

UnRepeatable Me/UnrepeatableYou

So , this is as much for me as it is for you. You are unrepeatable. There is no one else like you in the entire world. You are unique and special, and you have something that nobody else has.

This has been one of those weeks where I needed to be reminded of that. Often times, especially at auditions, I can lose sight of that. I can prepare for an audition and feel confident and strong, but when I step into that room and see all of the other actors up for the same role, I am struck with self doubt. The Censor takes over and I start comparing myself to the others. I see someone younger, or older, or bigger or smaller, someone with long hair or short hair, straight or curly, and I start to think that I dont measure up. That I am all wrong and that I dont belong here.
But then the moment passes, and I remember that I am perfect, just the way I am. Nobody else can do what I do. Nobody else looks exactly like me, not even my twin sister. My voice is unique, and only I can sing my song. The quirky little things that we see as "flaws" are often the very things that make us so special.

I am hoping that tonite, you remember this too. :)

Taking the Road Less Travelled

I was really not feeling the gym tonite. Really. I dont know why- but all I wanted to do was go home and curl up in my bed. I wanted to turn on the tv, grab some oreos, and curl up in my bed.

But, I have goals I am trying to reach, so in the end, I ended up going. I ran for thirty minutes, and then I took a 1 hour yoga class. It felt good. I am so glad that I went. I'm always glad that I pushed myself to go. I always feel better too. Its getting there thats the hard part- once I'm there- I feel perfectly fine.

Taking "the road less travelled" is HARD sometimes. Its so much easier to do what everyone else is doing. Its hard sometimes to say NO to the party, the boy, the movie, the book...but since I am really focused on my goals- I know what I have to do.

One thing I try to do to keep myself on track is to reward myself for doing the right thing. Just a small treat to acknowledge and affirm my actions. Kinda like our teachers used to give us gold stars on our tests when we did a good job. Sometimes its a frappuccino, on good weeks a mani/pedi,or a new book....just something to keep me motivated.

So, heres to sticking to our goals and making our dreams come true!!