Getting "Daily Rituals" in Order with Help from Google Calendar App!

 No one,who knows me, would ever accuse me of being tech-savvy.  That's a fact! But things keep falling into my lap to give me the assistance I need to stick to the new rituals I am currently incorporating into my day.

Two days ago, while strolling through Twitter I came across a cute ad for the Google Calendar App that has a new feature allowing you to set goals. Just what I needed to keep me honest. So, I scheduled my morning and nightly meditation sessions, a half hour morning Spanish study session, and a morning trip to LA Fitness. What I like about it is that it sends me a reminder 30 minutes before my scheduled goal and prompts me to mark the goal as completed after my scheduled session is concluded.  Yeah, it may seem like a bit much, but having my goals planned out on a calendar with reminders forces me to stay on track. I know myself well enough that keeping track of things makes me feel good and eliminates "forgetting" when I would rather stay in bed.

The cool thing is I am back to waking up at 6:00 am and by 9:00 am every morning I have meditated, studied Spanish- currently via Duolingo App, and worked out for an hour. This is a far cry from dragging myself out of bed at 9:30 am, getting wrapped up in work and not feeling like I have any "me" time.

The overall goal is to develop the daily routine that doesn't feel like a chore.

Thanks, Google for giving me something useful and helping me feel productive first thing in the morning. I look forward to finding more uses to improve my time management.  Now, yes, the app isn't perfect. I'm not doing an ad for Google but it just really works for me, and that's what matters.

My next step is coming up with a workout routine so I maximize my hour at the gym. This has been my challenge in the past. No more excuses.  If my ass is gonna wake up early I better make the time count, right?

Below is the funny Google ad that turned me on to the app and inspired me to add Learning Spanish back onto my "To Do" List! Haha! Watch and it will make sense. :)   

Meditation Practice Opens Door to Discovering the Works of Marianne Williamson

I find myself struck by the tiny shifts happening in my daily life once I made a personal decision to live from a place of Truth in a real meaningful way.  I have for years had much difficulty embracing a meditation practice. I just had big expectations of some big spiritual awakening but my mind seemed to ramp up with mindless chatter and I gave up.

This time around, I have found that simply being in a place of wanting to make a life change and if you will, surrender, has made all the difference.  I am one week in to, once in the morning when I wake up and again at night before I go to bed, sitting on my meditation pillow and listening to the silence without expectation of anything. My goal is to simply establishing the "practice" and whatever benefit will come when it will come.

To my surprise, what I am finding is while nothing particular seems to be happening while I am on the pillow, I am finding myself drawn to material during the rest of my day that is showing me a more spiritually mature way of looking at situations as they arise.

Case in point, I have heard of Marianne Williamson, but for some reason, I have never read a single bit of any of her many bestselling books on spirituality. In retrospect, I find this strange since, I have a ton of books on spirituality, self-help, what have you. So why have I never read anything she wrote? Odd. This week, however, she has been popping up for me almost daily. Of course, I walked to The Illiad Bookshop a few blocks from my home and bought my first Marianne Williamson book, A RETURN TO LOVE. I get it. I don't think I was ready for her.

If I am truthful with myself, up to this point in my life, my sense of spirituality has been about escaping my own pain and finding happiness through spiritual "Ra Ra" positive thinking without addressing on any deep, meaningful way, what is actually happening.

Now I am ready and listening to her conversations, her thoughts and it makes complete sense. It isn't easy but what she says just makes sense and inspires me to look at the shadow and light of who I am.

I just came across this Youtube interview that Kristen Noel had with Marianne Williamson for Best Self Magazine. Such an interesting, thought provoking discussion, definitely worth listening to when you are ready to make the time.

     

My "New Chapter" Begins: Appearing on Amazon Original Series, HAND OF GOD!

I am happy to say, the Universe has given me a sign I am on the right track starting this new chapter of my life, as mentioned in my prior post!

I just got word that I booked a role in an episode of the Amazon original series "Hand Of God." I look forward to shooting later this month.

Every opportunity I receive to do what I love professionally is truly a blessing.

Getting Back on Track with the Help of A Daily Meditation Practice

It has been an interesting journey I have been on moving through 2015 and into 2016.  I am happy to say that my niece continues on her long road to recovery. While she faces many many challenges still to overcome, she is truly inspiring.  How she keeps her sense of humor and positive disposition through it all is amazing.

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, my 89 year old mum has her own health challenges of late. Out of all this, I have to give mad props to my sister Andrea who is back in Philadelphia, holding things together for both our mother and her daughter. I struggled with feeling a bit selfish being so far away on the other side of the U.S.A. pursuing my acting dreams while my family has been in crisis mode. One of the reality checks of the life I have chosen is, when family issues arise, my finances and sheer distance from my loved ones make it impossible to physically be there with them as often as I would like. Suffice to say, I have not had much desire to write on this blog.

My sister, being the wonderful woman she is, assured me that the best thing I can do is focus on my career and give them something positive to focus on as my family members are my biggest cheerleaders. So, I am in many ways renewed by my desire to succeed, not only to make my family proud but to also one day be able to be a means of support beyond phone calls and pep talks via my I-Phone.

That said, I have decided to spend some time, taking yet another hard look at my career and life. I know there is nothing that brings me more joy than when I am acting on set. The question is, what more can I do to move my career truly to the next level? It's strange, but having this "new motivation" beyond myself to succeed, has me seeing how much can be gained by my shifting things up and pushing my comfort zone limits.

My first step is establishing a meditation practice. It is currently in its infancy as I near the end of my first week of meditation once in the morning when I wake and once before bed. By the weekend, I will be adding a morning trip to LA Fitness to my daily practice. The fact of the matter is, my beginning to get real with myself has made two things very clear. I have two immediate tasks on my road of renewal. One is quitting smoking, once and for all. The second is losing about 35 lbs and getting into competitive shape. These are not new revelations. I have simply used cigarettes and food to deal with career and personal anxieties. Period. I have been lazy. Period. I can no longer afford to be lazy.

I believe it is never to late to change. So, I'm here at the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I may need to use this blog to speak my truth and be accountable to living in my truth so I don't allow myself to "half-live" a life of "lame excuses."

Here we go...

    

Appearing on ABC's Grey's Anatomy in 2016

Yes. I know, I know. It has been a million years since I posted anything. What can I say, 2015 has been a year of many challenges.  I have had many opportunities to take a hard look at my life. Fortunately, when the dust cleared, I return with a renewed faith in the path I am on and a ever deepening determination to make a living making my dreams my reality.

I don't believe in coincidence, so I take in as an affirmation that after many months of "nothing", I made a commitment to making things happen and Boom I booked acting jobs!
 
I'm happy to report ,in October, I booked a recurring role on a fantastic show. I shot two episodes but as I signed a non-disclosure agreement, I will not say more, except to say I had a blast!  Life is good.

I can however mention that in early November, I booked a really fun role on ABC's Grey's Anatomy! I should appear in one of the early episodes when the show returns in February. The cast and crew were truly wonderful and made my experience sheer joy!


I have much to be thankful for these days.

When I have more to report, I will let you know!

LA Marathon Approaches!

I am just days away from participating in the 2015 LA Marathon.

I have no idea what to expect. I have been training although, I think I could have done much more to prepare. Trying to incorporate training with road-time with Rusty was not much of a success. But I did get out there and hopefully it was enough.

Nevertheless, I am going for it. I don't care about the time it takes for me to finish, just that I finish. I intend to have fun and make Sunday a fun adventure, come what may!

Road To Wellness...

UPDATE: Great news!  I have been away from blogging for quite some time dealing with a lot of family drama. I am happy to say my niece, has awakened from her coma around New Year's day and was moved to a rehabilitation center specializing in brain trauma. 

Andrea continues to improve but she has a long road ahead.. She had her feeding tube removed so she now free of all medical attachments to her body, YAY! 

On March 11th she was discharged and headed home!! She is super excited. She is walking, with assistance. She is talking and her hearing and eyesight should return as her brain continues to heal. She has a long road ahead with new challenges as she re-enters the regular world.

On behalf of my sister and myself, thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers of support!!