Finding my artistic side once again and making new friends.

For the past several months I have been getting involved in the artistic side of my job. I have taken on new responsibilities and being in charge of a monthly Art Gallery Opening at one of my boss' buildings. Since I have been doing this I have felt a sense of joy and excitement that I have not felt in many years. I feel like I am really good at something, like I make a difference.

And not only that I have been meeting new people, making connections with Magazine Editors, Musicians, Galleries, Artists, Designers and Curators and I am fascinated of this whole new world that has opened up for me.

On one hand it saddens me to know that for the first time in 7 years that I have been working for the same company, that just when I am about to move to a different state I finally find out what I love doing the most. Now that I love everything about my job, now I have to leave. But on the other hand, I believe that this is the time to learn as much as I can about this world, and get involved in every aspect of it so that when I finally move to Florida, I will be able to pursue a job in what I am passionate about. I won't have to be a secretary anymore.

So today I took another step toward this new route. I took a class of Drawing through Observation at The Living Gallery in Brooklyn. I must say it was a bit hard, since I had not drawn in so long, but I felt really proud of myself for taking the initiative to get back into art. And then when we where on our way home I remembered that a friend had told me about this new art store that had opened up near our house and I asked the girls and it was a unanimous decision. I must say this store was amazing! It had so many things my head was spinning. The first area I walked into just happened to be the area about print making, and I must say that was my favorite part of art class. They had Silk Screen Printing and Print Making with Linoleum. It was a hard decision to make, but I ended up buying the Linoleum Kit as it was less expensive and I wanted to try and start small. The truth is that I got all excited! I couldn't contain myself. Now I just have to come up with a cool design and bring it to life!

Another thing that I have been thinking about is how it is good to have different kinds of friends. I must admit I do not have many close friends. But I have found to be so important to have at least one friend who shares at least one of your biggest passions. And if you have several passions then to have at least one friend for each one of your passions, unless you are lucky enough to share several passions with one friend (which doesn't happen to me too often).  For example, I feel passionate about Art, and writing, so it is important to relate with friends who love art and friends who love writing. Also note that your significant other doesn't have to be that friend who shares all your passions. I mean, if he is, then wonderful, but if he's not, it is OK to have friends with whom you share your other likes and dislikes. Your significant other should be your best friend and should support you on all your endeavors, but he doesn't have to share all your likes, just as you shouldn't feel guilty if you don't love ALL the same things your partner loves as long as you are both supportive and encourage each other to follow your dreams.

So today's question is: What are you passionate about? And do you have friends who share your passions?

The 10 Days to You Challenge - Three Films - Day 8

This is going to be a hard one. I don't think I can think of only 3 movies that I like, not even only 3 movies that had touched me. But I guess I will write 3 films that have some kind of importance to me. But I know it's going to be very hard.

Once again in no particular order:

*Only You - With Robert Downey Jr and Marisa Tomei. It's in Italy is Romantic, and it talks about topics like destiny and true love. This movie was in a Tie with another Robert Downey Jr movie that I've seen over 50 times and I'm not kidding and it's Chances Are, with Cybill Shepard. It's also about true love and destiny. Totally two of my favorite movies from RDJ.

*Ever After, a Cinderella Story - Also in my second "film" I'm going to be cheating by including some other movies about the same actor with similar topics. This movie by Drew Barrymore touched me very much, it makes me cry every time, like most movies about strong women that achieve good things. I like this story because it portrays Cinderella as a humble yet very strong woman. Very powerful and a great role model for young girls, better than the defenseless portrayals of princesses in other movies. Two other movies by Drew that include strong women achieving great things is Riding in Cars with Boys about the journey of a single mom who got pregnant in her teens but was able to raise her child and become a famous writer at the end. She was able to win over the adversities that presented themselves in her life, and Whip It! also by Drew Barrymore because it shows a girl who fights for what she loves, and goes after her goals no matter how hard it is. Very strong female role-models in my opinion.

*Tuff Turf - This was the first movie I ever saw of Robert Downey Jr when I was 11 years old. I must say this impacted the way I led my life for the following 18 years. Obsessing about Robert Downey Jr until I finally met him in 2005. What I loved about this movie, even though it has gang activity, bullying and other inappropriate behavior that I would not allow my 10 year old to see, but back in the day I was impressed with Robert Downey Jr because he was a great friend in the movie, he risked his life to save his friend and he was a hero to me. It also deals with topics like fighting back against bullying and being a friend to the new kid in town. About being ok with being yourself. And a few other movies that had similar impact were Satisfaction (Girls of Summer) with Justine Bateman and the Julia Roberts before she was famous. It's about a band of 3 girls and one boy. It deals also with themes about finding yourself, being true to yourself, a little bit of love and exploring life. And Shag (the movie) this one with Phoebe Cates who was a sensation back then in the 80's. It's about teenage girls going out on vacation after high school and having fun one last time before one of them is supposed to get married. It's also about discovery and being one's self.

As you can see these are mainly 3 topics of movies that I like and there are way more that I could include on this list, but I'm supposed to put only three.

So what do you say? What are your favorite movies? what has impacted your life?

And come back for day 9 of the challenge with Two Songs. This is going to be even harder than the 3 films!

Friends Forever

Today I was reading The Rules of Life by Richard Templar and it read, "Someone once said that a real friend is someone you can  be having a conversation with as she gets on a plane, you don't see her for ten years, and when she arrives back you carry on the conversation as she gets off the plane like a moment hasn't passed." That premise made me think of my friends and how our friendship is exactly that.
For years I complained how I didn't have any friends and how all my friend's had abandoned me in one way or another, until two years ago that I finally was able to reconnect with a few old friends that I had not seen in more than ten years, and our friendship continued just like the statement suggested, as if not a moment had passed.
I have also made a few new friends since I've moved to NYC and I must say that we do not need to see each other every day to care and know that we are cherished and valued as friends. I am proud to call them my friends.
Today I am doubly blessed because not only do I get the chance to hang out with one of my new BFF's at my Wednesday Writing Group, but I get to go and pick up at the airport one of my BFF's since I was 12 y/o and get to have her a whole week to myself.
I am thankful for having my childhood best friends still be part of my life, for having some wonderful new friendships that I have made here in NYC and for all the loved ones that I only know through the internet, but that they are equally loved and cherished. To all of you I send a big hug and know that I'm blessed to have you be part of my life. I LOVE YOU!

Take the time to think about the people that you are grateful to call your friends. Do something nice for them today!