Going Niche-less: The Origin Story

My entire life- like most of ours- was built around "what do you want be when you grow up?" Which I know is a normal question to ask kids, but why? I mean really why do we need to pigeonhole ourselves even at such a young age? Luckily, I never really allowed for pigeonholing. I don't know about y'all, but I cycled through ALL of them as a kid. A vet. A photographer. A poet. A pianist. And even an astronomer [that one didn't go very far-but I did have a telescope, which was fun].. I was lucky enough to have parents that would support me no matter where my wandering mind took me. Eventually though, I landed on being an actor [which now looking at it is probably because actors have the ability to do EVERYTHING. Even be a astronomer!] And once I did, I really came down hard on that passion. I mean, my life became dedicated to studying the craft of acting. I found an amazing mentor, I went to a pretty good UC, and eventually moved to LA where I found work.

And this, my friends, is where the yearning for a niche-less life began, though I didn't know it at the time

After 3 and a half hot and sun filled years, I met and swooned over this guy [I'm a hopeless romantic], and visited him in New York after he left LA. Things went cold with him, I was a mess, BUT a happy mess. Weird, I know. But New York is... intoxicating. The air. The energy. The rhythm. I'd always wanted to live there, but it always felt out of reach. Not this time! I knew this was where I had to be, like right now. I had to move, in that moment.

Fast forward about 5 or 6 months and I'm on a plane ready to LIVE in NYC. I make a home, I have a job, I have a rhythm. I keep some practices, like yoga, but things start to change. My day to day is different. I'm finding myself focusing on my experiences, and the quality of life and friendships that New York had to offer.

But, my life gets really different about a year and a half into living there when Covid welcomes itself to the US. NYC gets hit hard. I lose my job. My life turns upside down. I spend lots of time under the covers cuddling with my cat, crying. Wondering what this all means for me. For my life.

And then... I started painting. And writing. And going for walks. I even did some online acting. I slowly and patiently realized that I need all of that, and more, in my life. I spent so much time trying to focus my entire life around one thing--acting. And don't get me wrong, I love and live for the art of acting. But when I moved to New York, my focus became life. And living it. And loving it. And... yes, eventually my life was turned upside down, but I got a whole new perspective when that happened. I didn't have to do just one thing, I didn't have to live my life in a box. I could buy roller skates, and teach myself how ride them. I could paint and open a store that focuses on sustainable art. I could write and feed that lost passion. AND more importantly, just because I did those things didn't mean I had to give up acting.

So here I am. Learning how to live niche-less life and asking myself and those around me-- Do we really thrive in box? Could we have more? Could we find balance and live a life that doesn't limit us?

So, if any of this babbling sparks a light, an interest, or even a curiosity into what I'm about to explore in my live, then join me! Let's go on a journey to find out what happens when you remove the limits on your life.