Being 24
I did it! I survived another trip around the sun! Being 23 was wonderful. I had a lot of successes in my career this year and I feel more comfortable in my personal life than ever before. Last year my goal was to pursue balance between all the different parts of myself: the right balance of me time and friend time, creative work time and relaxing with a book time, family time and independent time, mental health time and fighting with the resistance time. I kept a facebook photo diary of my year called “I am not a star. I’m the whole galaxy.” It’s from a Girl Blue song. I have star qualities but I also have darknesses and empty spaces that make up the whole of me. Ultimately, the galaxy is way cooler than a single star. It’s our brightness and our darkness that make us human, that make us strong, that make us uniquely us. Well, I did okay with my goal. My balance still feels totally off and funky. Every time I’m like “my career is going AWESOME” I simultaneously think “what happened to my social life?”. And when I think “Daaang, this book is so good” I also think “Crap, I could have used that time to write a curriculum!” And when I think “gosh, rehearsals are so fun and fulfilling” I also think “the Avengers movie came out 2 weeks ago and I haven’t seen it!” I’m incredibly busy and incredibly lucky. I have a bright future but the path towards it feels dark and muddied. That’s why I’ve named my new photo album “Getting lost in the dark is my favorite part” -It’s from a Janelle Monae song (LOVE HER) and I’m using it to inspire me this year. The journey towards my future often feels like being lost in the dark but each year I feel better, closer to my dreams, more fulfilled, and happier. So I’m going to try to enjoy this lost feeling as best as I can this year. Here are some epic things that happened to 23 year-old me:
- I spent my 24th birthday in Disneyland and met TIANA!
- I taught TONS of classes at Studio East, YTN, ACT, and STG and became Studio East’s Education Associate.
- I hiked the BEAUTIFUL Ozette loop, a 3-day backpacking trip, with family & Devin.
- I spent a week in Boston, saw some amazing sites, and visited some great friends.
- I saw the ECLIPSE.
- I celebrated my 2 year anniversary with Devin!
- I went to the Washington State Brewers Festival with my dad for Father’s Day.
- I had a blast at Gay Day at Wild Waves
- I played Lear 1 in Lear(s) with Shakspeariment
- I went to PAX West and cosplayed as Jigglypuff and Tubbs.
- I saw Leslie Odom Jr. live in concert!
- I went to the Legend of Zelda Symphony.
- I cosplayed as Indiana Jones at Geek Girl Con.
- I went pumpkin patching.
- I helped carve some DOPE jacko-lanterns.
- I made children scream for a very happy Halloween.
- I read some amazing books!
- I directed my first mainstage play: Rikki Tikki Tavi at Youth Theatre Northwest.
- I went to Seaside, Oregon for a beautiful holiday getaway.
- I celebrated a white Christmas with the fam.
- I picked up knitting and crocheting again (I didn’t make the penguin hat but I made the other 2)
- I marched in the Seattle Women’s March.
- I went to a Saint Vincent concert.
- I saw Hamilton!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I cosplayed as Kate Bishop at Emerald City Comic Con
- I played Catfish in Tortoise and the Hare with Storybook Theater
- I saw lots of great theater (some featuring super talented friends!!)
- I threw the first pitch at a Mariners game at Safeco Field on May the 4th.
- I drank lots of craft beer.
- I ran a few 5k’s with my mom (including the Mardi Gras 5k!)
- I directed The Jungle Book with STG’s Disney Musicals in Schools Program
- My cat and my girlfriend moved in with me.
- I played Grumio in Taming of the Shrew at SecondStory Rep
- I celebrated Mother’s Day by going to a Pierogi Fest and hanging with the family.
