UNIQUE SIMPLICITY

This week’s blog is going to be what they refer to as short and sweet, relatively speaking. I know, I know, you might be asking yourself, short? Yes, I will admit that I tend to write some novel-length blogs, but it seems to be that way in most writing aspects of my life. Just ask those who know me, and they will tell you that my e-mails and letters, covered in stickers, tend to get that way too. But what is a girl to do?

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the “Stars for Stars” red carpet charity event that benefits Tiny Stars, an agency that funds a network of undercover operatives to track most wanted child predators. It was a fun night out at trendy Les Deux restaurant in Hollywood, with mostly down to earth people in the entertainment industry, including a few stars, hence Stars for Stars. It was nice to attend an event where I could meet and mingle with people, while giving back. Donating to causes like these is truly fulfilling for me and even teaches me a few things about charity foundations in general, which I hope to be able to use with my own children’s charity foundation one day.

Overall, things have been going really well for me in pretty much every aspect of my life. Although I am usually happy on a daily basis, possibly overly so to some, I am cheerfully chipper and happily hopeful in the most genuine form these days. In fact, I have begun discovering new, what I refer to as unique, simplicities in my life.

Speaking of unique simplicity, I was driving back to my apartment at 4:30AM Tuesday morning, when I was struck by the refreshing silence surrounding me. I was traveling on the usually hip, busy, and oh so popular Melrose, but at a time when there was almost no traffic, an endless row of soothing green traffic lights, and a quiet calm in all directions. Just the mere thought that in a couple hours the sun would be rising and the streets would once again be filled with disrupting noise and infamous morning traffic brought a new appreciation for unique moments like this. Suddenly, simply driving down a street I use often took on a new, refreshing quality.

I think there is growth to be found in such moments for anyone, but especially actors, because it allows you to clear your mind and therefore think more clearly, which is crucial to be able to do. Being able to think about and absorb the lives of other characters, which is what acting is ultimately about, starts with having a free sense of yourself and letting go to the best of your ability, in order to openly welcome the character you are playing, and to take on each personality, as fully as possible.

So, as I get ready to do just that and have some fun over at CBS on the Y&R set, while making the most of the experience itself, I plan to continue trying to actually see beauty in the simple things. My experience driving down Melrose and my photographing things, aside from people, over the last couple years (some of which you can see below) have taught and helped me to do just that.

I feel I have a lot to look forward to, for which I am consistently thankful. I am going to sit back and enjoy this hopeful time in my life, while encouraging you to try finding your own unique simplicity.

 
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” - Hans Hofman

Picture Locations (from left to right)

Top Row: High-rise Through Tree - Downtown LA / Haunted Woods Trail - Prince Edward Island / Green Gables Berry Bush - Prince Edward Island

Middle Row: Lantern Shadowed Window - Hollywood Hills, CA / Pumpkins - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island / Railroad Track - Kensington, Prince Edward Island

Bottom Row: St. Patrick’s Cathedral - NYC / Red Wood Trees - Muir Woods, CA / Single Rose - Brentwood, CA