A few days ago I returned to the Big Apple after an unexpected 4-month hiatus. In June I was prepping to go on another one of my backpacking adventures, this time completing a 5-day trek through the mountains and amazon to Machu Picchu, when I received a call literally out of the blue from an artistic director friend of mine. He needed an immediate replacement for the Wicked Witch in "The Wizard of Oz"... and more than that, he needed someone who could be a convincing b*tch. Well folks, I know my type! Next thing you know, after having a Peruvian trip of a lifetime, I packed my oversized bags and headed back to the Badger State.
You're probably wondering why I am writing about another contract in Wisconsin (if you're actually still reading this post), and the reasoning is this: after last December I told myself I was done performing in Wisconsin. Being a career-is-always-first woman, I was looking to keep moving forward to the next step- forever worried of staying stagnant, getting "left behind". However, after 7 months of no prospects and an unenthusiastic audition season, I figured I had literally nothing to lose... And it was the best decision I could have made.
It was the most relaxing and enjoyable time I've had in a long time. A very much needed and welcome detox from city life. A snap decision led to laughs, unexpected friends, adventure, and even love. You see, I made this decision on nothing but the basis that my gut was telling me to go for it. Too often we let our minds make life decisions for us, and I do think something is to be said about the power of "No". But what about the power of "Yes and..." or as my dear friend Mark likes to call it: "Saying Yes to Yes!". I truly and 100% believe that everything happens for a reason, but only if you open your heart and mind to it. No decision is the 100% right decision, unless you decide it is so. No one's opinion is law, unless you make it so. What if we just trusted our own guts, emotions, and decisions? You don't have to keep doing what you are doing if it does not serve you.
Did spending the summer in Wisconsin completely and utterly change my life? Nope. Have all of my dreams come true? Nah. Did I spend a summer making decisions based on my own personal happiness and finally let life flow through me which led to unexpected opportunities and adventures? Oh, you betcha. Life is a work in progress, and if all roads lead to Rome then don't be afraid to create your own path.