No One Wants You. Who’s “No One?”
This entry was drafted on Nov.4th. I promised myself I would complete a quick revision the next day and post on schedule. Suddenly, everything I had to say seemed trivial, surface level and ignorant of the world’s precarious state.
I turned to my family, my friends, and supportive groups like Amy Poehler’s Smarts Girls for solace. Though a week late, the art and contributions of more open and factual people must persist. So here is the November Forest Friends, with full awareness that my silly videos, my print shoots, and my nerdy hobbies are just that - making art and having fun - despite a nerve racking political landscape. If you’re a fellow creative, continue making and publishing your art, but include time to make an informed vote in your local elections. The local power of the state and strength of our communities are the only protection we have against rights being taken away, and putting our environment in further turmoil. Read about your county commisioners, your senators, and town councils as if life depends on it, because it does. Here’s an approachable website to help you get started. LDF and SheShouldRun I know I get overwhelmed by politics, so hopefully this helps both of us begin to get involved and learn how minor elections shape our communities.
October was a month of minor hopes and dreams being realized. It is a little chaotic when multiple are realized in a span of four weeks, but wow what a serotonin boost.
HOPE #1 - ENTER SHORTCUTS
I’ve been lurking in the back of ShortCuts since February, watching three hours of short films each month and plotting my entry. Filmmaking is a team sport however, and one of the reasons I was an audience member for so long, is that I needed to accumulate the right group of people to collaborate with. Finally just the right deadline, competition rules, and people were in my life to get going. If I was a little more “woo-woo” girl, I’d say I had spent seven months manifesting this. I think if you stick with something long enough and keep yourself open to change, you’re more likely to notice when your perfect opportunity appears. I kept attending meetings, kept talking about the club with friends, and kept organizing my calendar around Short Cuts deadlines. Eventually I met someone who was excited to tackle this challenge with me.
HOPE #2 - CABIN IN THE WOODS
Shoot for FW ‘24 winter collection with Roz Jewelry
Living in the city without a car (and an budding actor’s income) my love of exploration is somewhat limited. However, as the Beatles so beautifully sung, I get by with a little help from my friends. I found myself in a beautiful Vermont cabin one long weekend in October where I, and nine other wonderful humans talked around campfires, went hiking, ate great diner brunches, and got creative. I am extremely blessed that somehow the events in my life lead me to these generous and kind people. (discussion of money next if that makes you uncomfortable) I used to be in a headspace where my smaller income made me feel equally small. I walked around thinking about all the things I can’t buy, can’t travel to, can’t afford. As cheesy as it is to refocus your brain on being rich in other ways, like friends, family, and health, it really helps. It helps because it keeps hope alive in your heart to notice when a new friend is lovingly helping you reach one of those places you thought you can’t travel to.
HOPE #3 - A DAY JOB I DON’ T HATE
Sticktoitudness - noun - the state or quality of having tenacity, in a fun way.
I’ve had many jobs this year. Sometimes three at once. Sometimes no job at all. I quit places. I got fired places. I gracefully let my time expire places. Through all those changes I forced myself to not only pay attention to the pay checks, but pay attention to the feeling they bring. I was making bank (relatively) at my summer job. I quit because I was crying once a week. My spring teaching job was so cute and inspiring. My spring teaching job was exploiting my talents. My winter cafe was comfortable. My winter cafe kept me stagnant. One job however, consistently made me feel purposeful, gave me time to be creative, and sold a product I believe in. So I stuck with that feeling through the ups and downs of the new company for a whole year. I’m now proud to say I am employed at a job I not only don’t hate, but truly have fun with. Choose LeTish Coffee for your next gathering or event.
HOPE #4 - REN FAIRE
It’s lit. ‘Nuff said.
HOPE #5 - HALLOWEEN
I love Halloween. It’s horror movies, costumes, and magic, how could an actor not love that? Some years my Halloweens have been just me, a bowl of candy, and a screen. Some people would say it’s cozy, I say they sucked. I want to be out on the one day a year everyone agrees we can wear costumes, get silly, and contemplate if ghosts are real or not. So I am estatic to have had a triple Halloween this year. Weekend one was dancing, the official night was my first Rock Horror Picture Show, and the second weekend was one of the best house parties I’ve been to. How great of a Halloween a person has isn’t any statement on their quality of life. However if Halloween is one of those things that bring you joy, and it certainly is for me, then I’m allowed to be extra happy this year’s brought me joy thrice over.
Through all these little hopes coming to fruition, I also had a couple modeling gigs, weekly acting classes, and my third comedy show with SponsoredBy. Now that I’ve taken over the SponsoredBy social media as well, it’s safe to say my October was fully drenched with creative energy. Funny enough, at the beginning of the month, an important person in the industry told me -”no one wants you” - but when I look at all I’ve created, written, performed, and all the love I’ve shared, I think it’s more accurate to say that her definition of “no one” is quite small. Maybe the “no one” in her definition, simply hasn’t met me yet.