Hello friends!
Increasingly over the past few months I've realized how much I've missed blogging and I've been meaning to pick it back up again but life's been a little crazy and laziness has crept in and, and, and...(I could offer up way too many reasons, so I'll stop at that.)
Actually, the real reason why I've been so hesitant to get back into a normal writing routine is because words don't seem to be my strongest suit these days. The honest truth is this: Life is proving to be so incredibly full of blessings and happiness and work and challenge and reasons for which to constantly be giving thanks on a daily basis, I feel like no words that I could come up with will do justice for the reality of the joy in my heart. And half of the time I can't pinpoint what exactly it is I'm feeling so happy about, so words elude me and I'm left with a simple bottom line:
Life is simply beautiful.
Yet when that's all you're left with it, elaboration can be a tricky thing!
As of now, I have been an NYU Tisch School of the Arts grad for exactly two weeks. I spent the first week out of school creating with, dancing with, and being inspired by Keigwin + Co. at their first summer intensive program, and then kicked it into high performance mode this past Saturday with the last week of rehearsals before the "Behind Painted Lines" June 1st premier at Symphony Space. (We had our last day of studio rehearsing today and if you're reading this and are able to make it out this Friday night, PLEASE do. The runs today proved that it's going to be a really amazing night that is definitely not one to miss! Plus, all proceeds go toward benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project, so you'll be supporting a great cause as well! PLUS, there are lots of rhinestones on our costumes. So obviously that in itself is perfect.)
I'd say that my first fourteen days of being a college graduate have been productive ones, and the perfect lead-in to a summer--and new chapter of life--of new experiences. As expected, I've gotten the "So what's next?" question many, many times and for all that have asked and have received awfully vague responses from me, I apologize! But this day-to-day, see-the-big-picture-but-don't-stress-because-today-is-all-you-have method is working for me, so I'm doing just that...Going day by day and doing my best to fully invest in whatever is at hand right now so as to set up my tomorrows as best I can. Auditions come and go and I'll do as many as possible. Class is still to be taken on a regular basis because training never ends, so I'll schedule them as I efficiently as I can. Connections are made, performances come up, opportunities present themselves, but only so long as the work is first put in and the efforts are made. I have ideas and options about where I'd like to see life go, both in the short-term and the long-term, but within those options I'm making sure to allot room for change as needed; in fact, some of the best things are those that were not initially planned for. Essentially, I'm doing the same thing I've always done, just with a new approach because instead of having the luxury of school to fall back on, I instead have the responsibility of rent to pay. But again, if life still requires the same utilization of the same tools that I've been practicing for years now--a plié is a plié is a plié, and one will always be working toward that fifth pirouette--does stress or anxiety have to be part of the equation? No, I don't think so! I'm still just doing what I know how to do!
So, what's next? I can't give specifics. But the second I can I absolutely will.
In the meantime, I'm choosing happiness. I'm going to continue waking up in the morning--early in the morning because my body seems to really like a good 7 AM wake-up these days...Oy...--and turning on my music and singing along with Beyoncé as I enjoy the heck out of my coffee. I'm going to keep going to ballet classes because I love wearing a good leotard and there's nothing more satisfying than leaving ballet knowing that you gave it your all. I'm going to keep wandering around this city with my eyes off the ground, continuously being reminded just how beautiful this place really is.
I'm going to choose happiness even when there's no rhyme or reason or words for the occasion.
So friends, here's to new chapters, old passions and a never-ceasing sharing of love.
Life is beautiful :)
