Well, tomorrow marks another big day in my journey. I am moving into a fabulous apartment with two of my really amazing friends. I am excited for this next chapter, but I am also really nervous. I have no idea what this path entails and I have no idea what lies ahead, but I do know that sometimes the unknown can be exciting. I love a good adventure, and although in the past I have been known to not handle change very well, I feel like I am getting better at it. Change is a good thing and is a way of life. If I have learned anything, it is that it is so important to listen to yourself and if something feels right then you just need to take the leap and do it!
Sometimes when I look back on my path I am just so in awe of how far I have come. I feel like I have made it to the top of the mountain, I have seen the beautiful view, and now I must continue on to another mountain to see what the view is like somewhere else…. can you tell I love analogies? :)
I am really looking forward to spreading my wings more and gaining more independence. I want to openly say how proud I am of myself. I know it might seem silly and strange to say something like that about yourself, but I do believe it is important to recognize your own accomplishments. When it is all said and done, in the end, all we have on this earth is ourselves, so might as well develop a relationship with yourself and recognize when you have done something good or accomplished a huge task. Be kind to yourself, listen to yourself, trust your instincts. Your instincts are always right. Take time right now, to close your eyes and ask yourself what you want and what you can do to get what you want… the answer will be right there. The answer lies within you. Don't be afraid of it.
Tomorrow will be a big day, and I will be closing a chapter in my life, but I feel like the next chapter will be full of adventure. I feel ready to tackle whatever is to come next.
BRING IT ON!!!
We closed Les Mis on Sunday. I do have to say that I was very sad when we took our final bow. This show meant so much to me, it was more than a show, it had become a part of my life. This story had become something that I needed and this story had become an important part of my day. I do not think I have ever felt such a strong connection between the cast onstage and the people in the audience. Every single performance there was a special electricity connecting the two and it made for a very magical and soul fulfilling experience.
As I sit and finally have time to reflect on my Les Mis experience, I find myself feeling very grateful for the lessons I learned and for the people I met. I wanted to take some time to write down what I feel I have learned and how I have grown from this EPIC experience.
1. Always introduce yourself on the first day of rehearsal. It is silly to waste anytime on a potentially wonderful friendship
2. Sometimes you have to listen to your heart and get out of your own way because there is something or someone really fantastic waiting for you
3. Give 100% to who you are and to the story you are telling
4. Really ask the questions and find ways to connect to the lyrics
5. We are all storytellers, it is our job to tell this story
6. Make eye contact
7. Sometimes people are fighting a harder battle than you realize and you just have to find the trust within yourself to keep going
8. True colors are shown eventually
9. Laundry baskets are the best thing to have in your life if you are making a lot of costume changes on either side of the stage
10. Boots are more comfortable than la ducas
11. Team spirit days are always the best
12. There is something so magical about a Sitz Probe
13. When you keep crying in the same spot every single time and never get sick of it, you know that you are onstage with amazing people
14. Wearing a corset for a long period of time can cause you to feel dizzy
15. Tabitha the Nun is the most important role in Les Mis
16. You see people's real true colors come out by the way they act or don't act towards you after they see you in a show
17. Spoolies make my hair curly and are a great conversation starter
18. I now know what a merkin is.
19. It is a lot harder to make a music video than you even realize
20. Kira's cookies are still the best
21. The best feeling in the world is seeing a packed house of 800 standing, applauding, cheering and even jumping during bows.
22. Family is the most important…. including your theatre family
23. I have never cried so much in my whole life
24. Saying goodbye to the barricade and the boys on the barricade each night was devastating and surprisngly a lot harder than you think
24.5 Having a pretend battle backstage to the gunshots with Skye will get you out of your crying funk really fast!
25. fancy dresses, big poofy sleeves and a headband with curles will always do wonders to your figure
26. There will be times when you feel sick, or you learn of tragic news about a loved one during the show and you have to find the strength within yourself to lean on your cast mates and just keep going.
27. It is nice thing to bring up a mic for a friend after the show
28. Before you put a break down on a staircase always make sure you are in the clear so you don't hit your eye.
28.5. Peas work best for a swollen eye
29. Marching in place is powerful
30. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise….. always.
