I'm not crazy, my reality is just different than yours.

Thank you Cheshire Cat!  I may have just found my new life slogan.   Ha ha!  Brilliant!  But seriously, I know my blogs are all about rants about how LA is soooooo different from everywhere else in the world but why?  Because it’s a land of dreamers?  It’s a place where thousands of people flock every year because they know they’re different from everyone else and they know that this is the one place where they won’t be judged for being different…

Except that’s exactly what happens here.  We’re all judged.  For the clothes we wear, our hair styles, make-up, cars we drive.  You name it, it’s judgeable and judged.  But the people who really succeed out here, are the ones that DON’T CARE!

I’m serious!  It’s an amazing thing and granted it takes a while to realize it.  I’ve been  called crazy a lot in my life…I mean  a LOT and I’m finally to the point where I realize, I’m actually not.  I’m “crazy” because I’m driven, passionate, really care about others and put their happiness before my own. Wow, I think if there were more people like me, the world wouldn’t be such a bad place.   I mean, true everyone would have to be fans of the Cowboys and Longhorns but at least we would find a successful way to make football season a year round thing!

A friend told me earlier this week that I’m wife material.  I’m not sure how I feel about it considering I’m still single but it definitely makes me feel better knowing that I’m considered respectable.  I mean, ultimately it only matters what you think about yourself but it’s nice to know others are on the same page.  And I can only credit my family for teaching me important values growing up.  But good Lord, could you imagine me married with kids?!!  I did once…imagine it that is.  Oh well, when the time is right. 

For now, I guess I’ll keep dancing to the beat of my own drum because that is ultimately how you survive out here.  Make your own music, your own story and get lost in it.  Eventually others will start listening to it and reading along and realize that your crazy is actually a little bit of genius…  So have fun with it.

Love,

Kimberly 

A Very Happy Unbirthday to Me...

Well it’s definitely not my birthday but this weekend marked the 5^th year anniversary of my move to Los Angeles.  Crazy, right?!  Ah, how time flies.  So there wasn’t exactly an official celebration but I guess I did make quite a splash this weekend.

Not to mention, football is back!  Now before you start going on about my QB, for either teams, let me just say, I DON’T CARE!  My teams are my teams and I love them winning or losing (although I do tend to curse a lot more when they’re losing).  But I still love the game and am so ecstatic that it’s back!

So I feel like this week is going to be a very joyous week, even if I have to make it so.  A lot of good stuff is going on around me, including finally starting to train for my half marathon.  Woo hoo!  But I really hate running so the thought of doing it for 3 hours is just really unnerving. 

But no negativity this week!  It’s my Unbirthday week!   And what’s better than staying productive and being positive about all of the blessings that we have in life?  I know, out here is Los Angeles, it’s hard to stay positive.  Especially when it’s the 6^th and the rent check you wrote on the 1^st still might not go through by the end of the day, and you’re working 8 hours at a job you really can’t stand in order to make the rent…I get it!  But at the end of the day, I’m given the opportunity to do some really cool stuff.

I am so thankful for the life I have, even if it’s not where I planned it to be.  I love my friends, you guys know you are so amazing.  I love that there are so many opportunities available to me to help achieve my success.  And I really love the fact that you all reading are right there with me in all of this! 

So again, I’m off until next week…rehearsing, producing, running and tap dancing (yes, I signed up for tap classes).  So with all the love in my heart, enjoy this week and take it as an opportunity to bless others.  Remember that with our tongues we have the ability to bless or curse others.  So have your own Unbirthday week and go have fun!

Lots of Love,   

Kimberly   

...as long as you walk long enough.

I honestly forgot about this little gem until I was looking over quotes from the Alice in Wonderland books.  If you haven't read them, do it.  They're super short but so full of crazy imagination!  

I love this quote though because it speaks volumes to my life and my career.  Alice asks the Cheshire cat for directions, he asks to where and she says I don't care, prompting his response "then any path will take you there." To this she replies "So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough"

Mind blown right?  But it's true.  And I swear to you this is the key to pursuing your dreams.  Sticking with it and being persistent long enough.

This week I had a big audition.  It was the first time I went in for this show and I was excited!  I posted on FB and Twitter but I didn't say what the show was...it was Glee!  But I didn't get the part.  And that's ok!  It was still a big victory because I was called in to make an impression on people and open a door for future roles.  

But too often people see this as a failure.  I finally get called in for that show and I didn't get the part!  My career will never take off!  I'm never going to be anything because no one wants me.  The funny thing is, Hollywood is built on relationships.  That's the long path you have to walk before you can really reap the rewards of success.  Relationships don't become strong overnight but too many people get impatient and give up before they really even give themselves a chance!  I got called in and now I've started a new relationship.  Time to build on it! 

So on that note, I'm going to keep walking down the path I'm on and remember that if I walk long enough, I'm going to get there.  Thanks for following me and I hope you're having fun so far ;)

Oh and happy Labor Day!

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

Even as I'm starting this blog, I literally have 10 minutes to get out the door to work.  This past week has been a very busy one and this current one is proving to be the same!  Lately I've felt as though I've been rushing to do everything!  It's not because I'm procrastinating either, there is just a ton going on all of a sudden.  I guess it's both a blessing and a curse but definitely more a blessing.  

Funny thing is, when I rush, I expect that everyone around me will understand and somehow fall in line to do the same.  Of course this never happens and only leads to my biggest problem, impatience. I am soooooo impatient!  And I've tried.  I swear.  I try to be patient and wait for things to pass but I end up losing the battle.  And although I would love to say that I pray and ask God for patience, I definitely do not!  Why?  Because I know exactly what will happen.  He will send me into a ton of situations that will force me to be patient and instead of learning the lessons I've asked him to give me I will only get more and more frustrated.  Yes, I am a five year old in this instant!  

Maybe one day I will learn patience, who knows.  Until then I guess I will just have to realize that forcing things to happen before they're supposed to will never work.  I mean, everything goes by God's timeline anyway, not mine.  

That being said, I'm rushing out again, to a casting workshop...  But don't worry, I'm not late to this one!  Thanks for reading and sorry this one came out late ;)
Until next week...
Kimberly 

No, impassable, nothing's impossible!

Naturally another favorite of mine except that this might be the one quote that drives me!  Because it's true, you can totally do anything you set your mind and attitude to as long as you're willing to work for it.  Nothing comes to those that don't work for it.  God helps those who help themselves, right?  Right!

This week has been a very interesting week to say the least.  I've dealt with a lot of doubt, redirection and rejection but honestly, I only feel more secure that I'm going to succeed.  Those of you who have been keeping up with me know that I'm producing a film and I've spent this week talking to my campaigning mentor and making sure that I get fully trained before I start in on the pre-production funding.  Honestly, it's going to be a lot of work and a lot of phone calls but I gotta say, I'm nothing but full of excitement over it.  And the great thing is, most people I've already talked to about it are excited and confident in knowing that it will come to fruition.  

It's kind of like getting ready to climb Everest for the first time.  You know it's going to take you a while and there's a lot of preparation that goes into it but the idea of conquering such a feat is so exciting.  I mean, I'm not exactly in danger of falling off a cliff or getting lost...or maybe I am!

Any who, I just gotta say that I love my new found confidence in the things I am able to accomplish.  And of course I thank God for putting these dreams in me as well as the strength and the drive to make them happen.  I have a wonderful foundation of people around me that are so supportive and it's amazing.

I guess today's post is just that simple.  Thank you to all of you who have and continue to support me.  You are all amazing and I love you so much!  Don't let anyone discourage you from doing what you were born to do.  God gave you the dreams you have and he gave you the ability to make them happen.  So stop waiting and go do it!

"Well where are you going?"

This is one of my favorite quotes from Alice, mostly because it reminds me that goals are important.  There's a reason people say Los Angeles is full of Lost Angels. People come here to follow their dreams but once they get here, they don't know where to go to make them come true.  I'll admit it isn't easy but I was blessed with really great friends when I moved out here and it has helped a lot!

The sad thing is, Los Angeles is a city where it's easy to coast through life.  I mean, the weather is pretty great 90% of the year, the beach is only at most an hour away, not to mention Disneyland is just right down the 5.  So what if I never make it or ever book a movie role, right?  I live in Los Angeles!  Wrong.

We survive here, we don't live.  It was interesting yesterday in church the speaker (I say speaker because the preacher was in New York for an engagement) said to us, we are here to save a city.  I had honestly never thought of this as my path but it really struck a chord with me.  I mean honestly, why would anyone in their right mind move to LA?  The rent is outrageous, as well as the gas prices.  The cost of living is 2-3 times anywhere else plus the smog and, oh yeah, the EARTHQUAKES!  Why would any intelligent person move here unless it was for a purpose?  Interesting.

Another thing happened that hit hard.  I usually try to write this blog on Sunday night or Monday morning and today I woke up late.  Yeah, I know.  But at work today, I was told that Robin Williams died.  And not just died, but committed suicide.  As an actor that is serious about my craft and my colleagues, this paralyzed me.  Why?  I didn't know him personally so why was I so affected?  Because this is so common out here.  People work so hard to achieve wealth and success but this city can make you feel so alone and so lost.  And for those that don't achieve the success, you're still lost but in paradise.  There is such a need out here for people, REAL people that feel and connect and love; people to really help the lost.  I don't know why he took his life but I know, it's heart breaking and it happens more than it should here.

Now on that note, anyone that knows me can tell you that I love a lot.  I can't tell you how many people that I have opened my heart to and let in just for them to feel safe.  Most of the time they have turned on me, pushed me away or even rejected me yet I continue to do it.  I guess you could say that I really need to get the hint and learn the lesson but for me, I would much rather suffer than to know someone is going through life without feeling loved.  I guess that's the one thing from the bible that I don't have to focus on is loving others.  I got that covered, even if it's not always reciprocated.

I don't know, I think I strayed a little from my original topic.  It's easy to lose focus on your goals when you live in paradise but it's also easy to get lost.  I'm so sorry that we lost such a great actor today but I hope that others will find the paths they're meant to take.  I remember the saying that is painted on the wall in my parents' house "live well, love much, laugh often." I don't know where the quote originally came from but I can say I plan to.  I just might love a little more than I should :)

Who Are You?

I've honestly not been asked this question as many times as you'd think but when it's asked, it's usually not in a positive way.  Think about it, the difference between "what's your name" and "who are you" is pretty big.  The latter is almost a request to validate your presence and prove your importance in a given situation.  And this brings me to my next topic about Los Angeles.

I actually had a teacher say once that the streets and the sidewalks of LA actually whispered these words to people.  And in a way it's true.  You really do wonder day in and day out what your purpose is in this city and if you're even supposed to be here.  So many people in this city are so much more important than me; who am I to be here?  Life here is definitely not unbearable but it's also not easy.

The funny thing is, I've come to notice this question a lot less in my life. But for some reason, it jumped in yesterday in a big way and I think it was answered best with the words of Matthew West.  Let me set up the situation for you...The past couple of weeks I have been working with a friend to produce a feature film. Yes, I mean a big one, like the ones you see in the movie theaters.  Me!  I am doing this!  But it's hard.  Like really hard.  You have to talk to a lot of people and you have to find money from people and it's just HARD.  You have to do a lot of proving to others who you are and validating why you are doing this.

So a lot of negativity has been creeping in and I've been wondering if I even should be doing this.  I've looked it over and prayed about it and it seems to stand in my mind and my heart that this is actually the path I'm supposed to take.  It hit me yesterday when the question came to mind, who am I to do something like this?  I noticed immediately that this was not one of my thoughts.  Call it what you want but I know what it's like to be attacked when your faith is renewed and strengthened.  That's what was happening.  And I answered that question.  I am a "child of the one true king."  And last time I checked "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Now am I saying that Jesus is telling me to take this particular script and that it is God's will that I make this film, no.  But what I am saying is that for once, I have a true understanding that God is my foundation.  He gives me the strength to do things that would seem impossible.  He knows my heart and has given me my dreams.  I know that I can do this and I know who I am.  And it's pretty freaking exciting!