Life can turn on a dime. We make choices that lead us down one road. On that road, we learn things about ourselves or at least have experiences on that road that we only would have had by following that path.

Then life happens. We are given a choice to keep going or pivot toward a new direction. In the moment, at times, it doesn’t feel like we have a choice but the choice is still there.

I suppose every road you take and the lessons you learned or refused to learn were what you needed to experience to lead you to where you are now.

When I was pursuing a career as a film and television actor, I enjoyed my life. However, after only four months since I formed Seeking Spirit Entertainment LLC and this blog, I have felt alive in a way I never have before in my entire life. I feel as if I am finally on the path that will bring me the most fulfillment.

Covid, toxic situations, and a desire to inspire my niece Annie not to give up on her dreams has me finally pursuing a dream I had since I was a teen in high school. My dream was to become a professional writer and one day- a fiction writer of mysteries.

It is strange. Ordinarily, I would sit here thinking to myself, who am I to think I can change course at this late date with all the student loan debt I had from attending an acting conservatory? How would I imagine I could realistically change careers, leave acting and seriously pursue a new life as a writer?

I think life truly is such a mystery and sometimes we have to take a leap of faith.  The unlikely but ultimately life-altering experience of living through the covid pandemic forced me to look at my life and re-evaluate what is most important.

Acting meant the world to me. What little success I was able to achieve took a lot of hard work and commitment. Yet, covid gave me the opportunity to have amazing conversations with my niece Annie. I was able to see just how much she faced from not only her traumatic brain injury but the other injuries sustained from her car accident. It was my choice to transition from acting to writing, so I could be more available to my niece and sister should they need me.

However, it is unambiguously clear to me, since I made that decision, something clicked. It is as if the universe began to work things in my favor. It was showing me I am on the right path. The biggest example of this is the unexpected forgiveness of my student loan debt.

Yes, I was one of those lucky folks whose loans were forgiven in full. Truth be told, over the years, I paid off the amount of the principle I actually took out as a loan. However, the compounding interest grew so large, even after 25 years of repayments, I still was in massive debt.

A few short months after I made the decision to change my path, my loans were forgiven in full. This was the biggest hurdle to my career transition and “poof!” it was gone! When I received the news, I cried tears of joy.

I decided that I needed to embrace this gift from the universe and follow with everything in me, this new path as a writer.

As I am writing this article, I am flying to Philadelphia and my adventure in Philadelphia’s gayborhood. The day has been all about traveling. I had a flight from Burbank to Denver with a connecting flight to Philly. Usually, I have an hour at minimum between flights. This Tuesday, I barely got to the gate when my boarding group was being called and the plane was on its way.

Since becoming a professional writer, I’m finding inspiration in the most unlikely of places. I did not expect to be inspired on this flight but once I was, it felt as if I was meant to get on that flight so that I could have the conversation I had. When you think about it, a plane ride is the perfect opportunity for the universe to send you a message or speak to you through the voice of a random stranger. Depending upon your belief system, I suppose, that stranger can be viewed as a literal or figurative angel conveying a message you need to hear.

My angel of sorts, came in the form of a vibrant white haired Jewish woman with stylish white glasses and an air f sophistication and warmth about her.

Initially, she came across as the embodiment of east coast friendliness that I enjoyed about growing up in Philly. She revealed that she was originally from New York city but moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia due to covid. This passing comment, inspired me to start this article about choices I had to confront due to covid.

As I wrote, I noticed my friendly neighbor engage with others including making faces at a crying child that seemed to calm him down and get him laughing.  

 She offered me a few carrot sticks with her characteristic warmth.

I’d like to think I was being blessed to have this interaction with this woman as a reminder to me why I am writing and to have a simple example of what it means to live your best life.

I am certain that this lovely woman has had her share of ups and downs in life. Yet, with a plane full of people, she led her actions from a place of joy and happiness. She engaged with everyone with warmth and charm including the crying baby.

At a basic level, living your best life to me is striving to stay open to happiness and sharing that happiness with others, whether you know them or not. Life is short. I want to use this opportunity to stop worrying about “just getting by” and challenging myself to be open to all the joy I can imagine experiencing.

It’s funny how life presents you with opportunities to grow if you open yourself to it.

I felt compelled to thank my “neighbor” for inspiring me to write this article. I gave her a business card with my website address for the blog with a thank you message on the back.

She revealed to me she did some acting and now taught writing. She spoke of her purpose in life was to spread joy. I shared with her my story and in her warm and caring manner, she unconsciously was confirming to me that I was on the right path with my writing.

This lovely lady will forever be a sign from the universe to keep doing what I am doing. The way she engaged with me reminded me of my late mum. This made the interaction all the more memorable and special because she invoked the spirit of my mum. It was like an added gift of feeling supported by my mum. I will treasure that interaction forever which is why I needed to include her in this article.

As the plane arrived in Philly and we were all about to disembark, the kind lady on the plane told me her name was Roberta and gave me a beautiful stone she had in her pocket. It is the stone pictured above.

No one knows what tomorrow may bring. Roberta reminded me, why not live today with joy? Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Thank you, Roberta!