Year's End

Photo Credit: Tamar Pelzig

Photo credit: Tamar Pelzig

The top photo is how my 2020 started. In Porto, a city I fell in love with and have been aching to return to ever since. The bottom photo is how I ended 2020. Traveling - well sort of - to Porto through a puzzle given to me by my wonderful friend Brigitte that never ceases to amaze me with her intuition and attentiveness.

So like so many other travel junkies, I did NOT do much travel this year. But I sure puzzled a whole lot.
Though - I'd still say I've gone to many new places. Mostly within myself.
We have all been forced to deal with chaos to some extent this year. Loss of a loved one... Job loss... Relationship shifts... Survival clicked in hard and heavy to so many of us. But this year has lead to a very positive metamorphoses to many of us despite the chaos or perhaps I dare say BECAUSE of it. 

Some of my highlights of 2020:
*I wrote my first full length play. 
*I started this daily blog in April, and have continued it every day for more than eight months. In the blog, I've written poems, short stories, and lots of blurbs about life, creativity and socially relevant political posts. It has been an accountability platform for me to exercise my writings, my voice and to face my perfectionism. 
*I continued writing my in-the-works two television shows and a feature and introduced a new inspiring technique to my work thanks to Joan Scheckel's filmmaking labs.
*I started writing a new project that may be a TV show, or may be a film... but honestly it is too weird to be placed in a box! Unearthing a new creative story is incredibly fulfilling.
*I wrote a short film script in which I am now in pre-production for. I plan to direct it in late spring of 2021.
*While on-camera acting has reduced dramatically... I continued my VO career with multiple new TV shows/films for Netflix and I built an in-home VO booth and was able to work from home for most of them. 
*I began a consistent daily meditation practice. Something I tried to do for many years...
*I reached a new level of self-care and am in the best shape of my life physically, mentally and emotionally thanks to daily practices of my beloved The Class and good ole' vinyasa yoga.
*I visited FOUR national parks this year: Lake Powell and Horseshoe bend, The Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Joshua Tree. 
*I learned how to ride a bike. Finally. Yes, I realize I am incredibly late to this party.
*I made banana bread, homemade pasta, and lots of other recipes I wouldn't think I'd be so excited about before, but ya know - perks of quarantine.
*I marched, protested and raised my voice in support of Black Lives Matter in the wake of George Floyd's murder, and discovered so many new activists, causes and inspiring voices to support! 
*I have cultivated a healthier relationship to social media which means I have REDUCED it substantially.
*I have pulled away from some toxic relationships that were weighing on my heart and nourished the ones that have been inspirational, supportive and lifted my heart with their unconditional love. To all my friends and family: I love you. I love you. I love you. P.S. A major shout out to my W who has been the best quarantine partner I could think of. I hope we keep dancing on the kitchen floor post Covid! <3 

With all its complexities, in many ways, creatively and personally - 2020 has actually been the most nourishing year I've had. When we go back to our 'normal' lives with crowds, parties, and large social gatherings, and more work opportunities... I hope to maintain the gifts from this year, and look forward to being socially close once again with a new perspective and a more open and fearless heart.
Thank you 2020. Now get the F out of here...

Happy New Year!