Talking With Strangers 2.0

The thought of interacting with strangers can seem unappealing and even daunting but you never know what you’re missing until you give it a try. You could be missing out on learning valuable life lessons!

I come from a family of Scuba Divers and recently while vacationing at one of our favorite dive spots, I met yet another stranger who really made me think about things. My family always chooses to sit in the back of the plane when ordering tickets, so that we can board first. When we got to our seats I quickly realized that I was stuck in the middle seat between my mom and a stranger. Being the anti-social caterpillar that I am, I begged my mom to switch seats with me, pleading that “I don’t want to sit next to some stranger!” She didn’t want to give up her aisle seat, and said that the seat might not even be taken. Just then a woman in her mid-sixties worked her way through our aisle and plunked down next me. I gave my mom an “oh hell no” look and she turned her head pretending she didn’t see. The woman minded her own business throughout most of the plane ride although I still felt mildly uncomfortable being next to her for so long. Toward the last hour (of a five hour flight) she asked me if I had ever been to this island. I answered her politely, trying not to engage in a full conversation, but of course it happened regardless. I can tell you that her name is Barbara; she is retired, with three kids, and several grandchildren. But most importantly I can tell you she is an independent and inspirational woman. Not only was she traveling alone but she often does. All over the world! She told me about all kinds of adventures she’d been on, people she met, and memories she had made. To me, this is un-thought of. I usually don’t even go to the bathroom without toting along at least one of my girlfriends. Going to a concert alone sounds absurd and traveling alone seems unrealistic and impossible. But Barbara wasn’t defined by other people, she went after what she wanted and she didn’t wait to go after it. Her first trip was to Italy when she was my age, all alone. Since then she’s traveled all over the country and world, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone. I still don’t think I’ll be traveling alone anytime soon but what I will do is try to assert my independence from others to strengthen myself. I don’t want to be held back from chasing what I want and experiencing amazing things, because I don’t have someone to go with me. The other day I went to a Katy Perry concert with my parents and sister, and guess what?! We all had separate seats, each about 20 rows apart. I had so much fun, all by myself… and yes, I did talk to strangers! (Two points for Gryffindor!) It’s not quite the same as going alone, but hey, baby steps right?

My Experience with “The Military Diet”

 

I’m sure you’ve seen or read about the Military Diet on Pinterest, but the reality of this “diet” is not what you’d think…

Actors are highly pressured to remain physically fit, (trust me… the camera really does add ten pounds). In an age where fad diets and diet pills are so easily accessible and said to be so effective it can be tempting to try them. After all, how much harm could they do? The answer: a lot. One of my friends and I decided to try the Military diet not too long ago. If you don’t know the deal with that, there is a three day diet plan set out for you and you have to stick to it (exactly, no modifications). The first day not that hard, and I wasn’t going hungry between meals. However each day got harder and harder. The food I was eating was so plain and boring, and not very tasty. When I finished the three days, the only result was that my stomach was slightly flatter (because I wasn’t full of carbs most likely). I didn’t lose any weight and I certainly didn’t gain any more self-control. In fact, I fell into a spiral binge afterwards of unhealthy food. (Telling myself that “I would start another fad diet tomorrow” every day). But that scared me into eating bad because I would never be able to have it again… a dangerous cycle. In all honesty, the Military diet did much more harm than good and pushed me back ten steps. I would guilt myself for eating bad and I didn’t even enjoy it! I learned that healthy eating and nutrition is what is important rather than a crash diet. Don’t get me wrong I still love junk food sometimes, but I’ve actually begun to enjoy it less!

7 Helpful tips for eating healthier:

-Drink lots of water! Often times you’re not even hungry, you are just dehydrated!

-For a small yet filling snack, (especially when you’re craving sweets) try a handful of almonds or roasted peanuts

-Getting lean means eating lots of greens! Get as many veggies as you can

-properly proportion your food, (a serving of meat is about three ounces, that’s pretty small)

– MINIMIZE CARBS (bread, pasta, rice. Etc.) they are great pre-work out and even just as a staple but most people consume way too many

-Eat slowly; when you shovel it all down your throat you don’t leave your body time to tell you when it is no longer hungry… which leads me to my last tip

-Stop eating when you are no longer hungry. A lot of people eat out of boredom or stuff their face until they go into a food induced coma (been there, done that.. can you say Thanksgiving 2011?) and although you should eat something every two to three hours to keep your metabolism high, that doesn’t mean to eat a meal… some trail mix, grapes, or even a cheese stick will do just to give you a boost.

As far as the gym goes, I’ve been going since I was 16. I push myself but not hard enough. I should go more often, do more when I’m there, work harder to make progress. But I always find myself with a lack of motivation. I fall off the “gym horse” quite easily. Trust me, when I finally figure that out, you’ll be the first ones to know.

 

Talking with Strangers

I went to Barnes and Noble the other day, just to get out of the house and focus on a script I’ve been familiarizing myself with, when this old woman approached me. In a very heavy Russian accent she said “it’s nice to see you.” Confused, I just blankly stared back thinking she must have mistaken me for someone else.  “You are supposed to say it back” she prompted. So I returned the phrase and told her it was nice to see her too.

“Do you have google?” she pointed to my cell phone.

“Uh…Yes…”

“Show me google, please.”

So I did. I pulled google up on my phone and wondered where she was going with this. She asked me to type “Pushkin, Three Fair Maidens”  into the search bar. What popped up was an old poem. She asked me to read her the beginning and for some reason I obliged, all while looking around for some young worried grandchild to come and claim her. She then pulled a business card out of her purse. It was covered with paper and laminated; I could see an orange sliver of the original business card through the tape and wondered what it was. On the outside she had broken down the first few lines of the poem, first in English and then in Russian.

“Read it” she showed me the Russian side.

“I don’t know how…”

She began reading it syllable by syllable waiting after each one for me to repeat her. She went through it with me several times and told me it would mean a lot to her if I learned it. She told me that back when she was a child in Russia, all of the kids knew this by heart and would recite it all the time. Now when she sees another elder Russian native she greets them with the first few lines of the poem. She claims it brings them great joy and reminds them of their childhood. She asked me if I were to see her again, to try to greet her in such a way.

I shamed myself after for feeling uncomfortable and assuming she was just a crazy old woman. It is these kinds of things that can help us expand as artists. It’s a window of stories and thoughts ripe for the taking, or listening rather. I think that talking to strangers in such ways will not only teach you different things but open you up in other ways. Overall what I’m trying to say is hear people out. Listen, smile, nod and be kind. There is no reason to shove in your headphones and whip out Candy Crush. Break through that comfort zone that has become the norm to our generation. Talk to woman on the subway sitting next you, the guy in line behind you at Starbucks, or the person sitting on the other end of the park bench. Take time to acknowledge and converse with strangers and it will really open your eyes.

 

An Inside Look

No I’m not talking about an energy efficient car…

I am a regular college student except I happen to be a part of two very contrasting pools of people represented on campus. I am a sorority sister and a BFA Acting Major. Why is this an unusual combination? They are both very time consuming commitments which requires careful mediation. Being an actress is my dream, something I’ve been chasing for years. However being a part of a group of young women who create a tight support system and work together to make a difference is yet another dream I’ve had since I was a little girl. Both are things I treasure very dearly and would not give up. So my only option is to MAKE it work! I know there are more hybrids out there! If you want to be a hybrid, don’t let anything hold you back. If it is something you truly want you will work it all out… You make have a few gray hairs afterwards, which I know is not ideal for your long awaited close-up but Hey! That’s what hair dye is for, right? Whether you are a fellow hybrid, looking for advice, or just want a glimpse into my life on either side of the spectrum, you have come to the right place. Take off your shoes and stay a while (connect with the earth… We all know how much actors love to work barefoot).