In my last post “Drastic Measures” I wrote about subliminal messages that appear to be supportive if you chose to embrace them. I chose to think of them as serendipitous. They speak softly but carry a big stick. One such message popped up again today.

This morning I updated my status on my Facebook page with this comment: “Leigh believes in change … (And no candidate used that one.)”  I was reflecting on the current risky personal decision I made to test the Louisiana film market to improve my career, with my husband’s loving support.  Just three hours later a young stuntman named Mario Perez replied.  

He quoted King Whitney, Jr., “Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.”

Holy CR*&^*&#P!  It freaked me out at first.  It seemed as though Mario, whom I’ve never personally met, could read my mind.  The quote he sent not only elaborated on my status update, it hit it out of the park with such clarity and nuance that hadn’t entered my mind — until now.

After brief but thoughtful reflection on the quote, I replied, “No fear. Just “hopeful” for our current global sea change and “confident” about my personal sea change.” A little more thought later, I added, “Well — maybe a small, but healthy amount of fear.”  

Validation comes in many forms. 

Finally, to Mario: “You are one cool dude.”

Drastic times call for drastic measures. In the current economic climate, you can’t let opportunities slide. The challenge is finding and optimizing the opportunities. My experience searching for opportunities in the past includes six cross country moves. Each move produced some level of success. Therefore, once again, I find myself taking the same desperate measure again. I plan to reside in New Orleans to continue my film career in a new environment. 

This move will be a little different, though. I won’t be alone. This move will be with husband and dog in tow. We will not give up our current residence, maintaining two bases of operation: L.A. and NOLA.  Finally, in Louisiana, we will be near family – a plus. (Thankfully, I have a supportive, self-employed husband who can live anywhere and has lived everywhere.  The dog —  he’s just happy to be wherever I am.  We will need to find a sufficient yard in NOLA for running in large circles at break-neck speed, however.)

Once you make a decision like this, the stress level rises. How much will it cost? Will it work? How long will it take? There are so many unanswerable questions. To reduce the anxiety, research helps reassure the decision. But, I have also noticed that subliminal messages crop up everywhere like warm embraces whispering, “Everything will be OK.”  Some messages are painful epiphanies. Some are refreshing revelations.  Some are gut feelings screaming loudly. Nonetheless, they emerge and regardless how hard they can be to hear, you need to be open and listen to them, hug and entertain them.

As anxious as I feel, I know that each day will calm my nerves.  With the freedom to discover, each day toward advancement creates optimism. For example: Twice this past week I heard a new Chinese proverb that says, “If we don’t change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.”

So what do you do? You change direction.

This is the latest theme in my life.  We go round and round and revisit moments of our past.  Although, they look a little different.  Our surroundings change.  The characters change.  We’re older.  We’re more experienced.  But, the moment is the lesson.  And, the lesson is important enough to appear again.

The moment that recently reappeared again reminds me to appreciate achievements.  Here’s a little achievement that I am eternally grateful: athletic ability and fearlessness.

Dad taught me to stand in his hand balancing on one foot as a toddler before I could even walk.  This is one of the earliest memories of my life.  I actually recall performing for visiting guests one day.  I can still see my tiny feet in my father’s palm. I remember him telling me what to do, “Now, lift your foot,” and I was scared.  I was scared, but I trusted him.  He wouldn’t drop me.  So, I slowly and apprehensively lifted my foot.  People in the room cheered and it was fun.  It was easy.  I could feel my Dad’s palm grip my standing foot tight and his weight holding me up.

The trick only lasted a few seconds before it was over.  It was a good experience.  I achieved something really cool and it made me happy.

… And then I became an athlete and a stunt performer.  Taking risks was a lesson learned at an early age.

OK – Now, I can post ads again.  No more campaign ads, no more smears, no more lack of control over the message of my website and blog.  

That said, it’s time to move forward.  For weeks/months, I’ve been focused on my wedding on October 4th. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with the election.  That’s done and it’s time to focus on the smaller world: mine.  Back to work. Back to dreaming. 

To get “forward” started, I’m posting Imagine, by John Lennon.  My brother, Jeff, read it at my wedding.  The hopeful, peaceful lyrics mean a lot to family members and resonate today, which I think was made clear on Tuesday.  So, here it are the lyrics:

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The biggest day of my life turned out to be a magical fairy-tale, as enchanting as our engagement photo above, which we call “Flying Kiss.”  

Saturday, I got married in the Scottish Highlands to my long-time Scottish boyfriend.  We were married in a historic community church built of granite walls and slate roof in the idyllic countryside of Birse. The church, the Birse Kirk, was originally built a few hundred years ago, but the date is not exactly known.  

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Last year I worked on this Toyota Prius commercial.  I’m driving the car in nearly every shot, but only recognizable in one shot for just a second as the Mom driving her teenage son to a stop near the “telemarketers picking up trash.”

It was short, but sweet, because I nearly skipped the audition altogether. Castings for car commercials are cattle calls.  A thousand actors show up all claiming to be expert precision drivers.  It’s usually a waste of time.   (more…)