My life as...

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My constants in life are my faith and family. I stay busy working full-time for a company that I love, and raising my son has been the joy of my life.  I enjoy observing, listening, learning, and breathing in all the good and hard times along the way of this privilege called life. 

My life as a song, "The Elements" by TobyMac.  

If you haven't heard this song, then you're missing out on some powerful lyrics. TobyMac is a lyrical genius who goes way back, and he continues to have a successful career.  I love all the verses, the hook, everything, but these words amplify my life experiences:

They try to break us, break us, make us wanna give in
Lay down our arms, Novocain us again
Lay down a fight, I could never relent
And I'ma take it all the way to the end

I'll fight the elements (elements, elements, elements)
I'll fight the elements (elements, elements, elements)
I got spirit, I got faith
I might bend but I won't break
I'll fight the elements (elements, elements, elements)

I feel like I'm a fighter in life.  Like many others, I've had some real rough times in life. There have been plenty of highs and lows.  At one point, after my divorce, the lows were inconsolable and I thought I wanted to disappear from life. But the Father I once knew as a child, who I had lost along my way, reached out to me in a dark place and walked me through the valley.  He put joy in my eyes so that I could be grateful for those hard times;it's faith in Him that keeps me going. I can truly appreciate every experience because I look for the positive in those hard times and that helps me make better choices every day.  Being resilient with trust in His perfect timing is what keeps me thriving.  Toby's words, "I might bend, but I won't break" are like an anthem for me.

My life as a movie, Little Miss Sunshine. 

I love that there is so much hope and light in darkness. I love that we can forgive one another. I love that we can accept each other, no matter how far from perfection we may be. And I really love that sometimes it takes a rough road to realize how insightful life can be when we allow ourselves and others to just be who we are on the grand stage of life. 

If you haven't seen this movie, it's one for your list. Great cast, meaningful writing, and heartfelt storytelling.  Between the darkness, there's so much humour, and every character is relatable.

My life as a food, Sapporo Ichiban Original. 

Sapporo Ichiban ramen is simple affordable food, enjoyed in different ways. Crush it up, add the spice, eat it like chips. Cook it traditionally, it's salty comfort food. Feeling fancy, add some green onions, protein, and a dash of Togarashi- it's "everyday gourmet".  It's inexpensive practical food that I grew up on and still enjoy to this day.  It's not always the healthiest choice, but that's life in moderation. I like Original the best because from that foundation comes the inspiration for other flavours.  So, I feel like Sapporo Ichiban Original is a reflection of me - adaptable, flexible, and practical.  

My life is full of wonderful ups and downs, just like many of the characters we find endearing in the films, TV shows, and plays that we watch. With acting, I just really love the idea of taking on a different character. Maybe I enjoy escaping from my own life for a moment. Maybe I enjoy sharing my life through portraying another character.  Maybe I enjoy how a simple sentence can take on dramatically different meanings depending on intonation and emphasis or how the other actor affects me. The challenge of portraying someone's truth is what keeps me committed to chasing my acting dreams.