A very wise person said to me the other day:
"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true."

It inspired me to write my life story as a Lifetime movie...but that will come later. So for now I'll just write a little about Dreams. How important they are and how they are the center of my life.

Like Madonna, only on a smaller scale (I'm petite after all), I've reinvented myself so I my dreams are reality. 

I don't just have them in my head, or just talk about them, or just wish for them. I've arranged my life to live them; to be able to do what I truly love with my time. But, I had to be willing to make some choices and to change the way I looked at opportunity. And the result is a magical world in which anything is possible, no matter how outrageous it seems.

I'm an entertainer so much of my life is filled with impossible odds to overcome to be a success. But effort is never wasted when you're being creative, your success is not measured by anything besides the pure joy it gives you!

I put two ideas in my head at the beginning of my life transition from a "regular life" to an extraordinary life:

1. "If I don't try, I'll regret it - even if I fail - because I'll always wonder, and I'll always have an unfulfilled dream that I ignored" (Dreams should not be ignored - they are the lifeblood of happiness).
2. "I may not be the most talented, and I may not be the prettiest, but I have stick-to-it-ness. So I'll be around when all the competition has given up or gone on to settle down" (because that's what usually happens when people work in the arts - I just did it the opposite direction).

I'd already had a very successful "regular life", and it was really great, but not really my dream life. Yet, from that life, I gained so much wisdom and experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

As I took steps to change my life, I knew in my core that I'd had great success. And I knew when I packed my bags and left my life behind --no matter what happened-- NO ONE could take that success away from me. It would always be an integrated part of my life and who I am.

I had nothing to lose by trying. I could always confidently go back to a "regular life" if I wanted to. But because of my outlook, I've never had to.

I've come to the unquestionable knowledge, that I'll always be able to not only survive -- but thrive -- creatively, financially and experientially - in a world in which I really fit. And all because I risked everything and changed every aspect of my life to TRY to make my dreams come true.

I’ve learned that I only have right now to enjoy my life, so why not do what I want, even if it seems impossible.

The only one who will be disappointed if I don’t, will be me.

And I simply cannot live with that!

Dear PC Police:

I’m wondering why so many women insist on using the male gender term to identify their career as a performer? Stating that “Actor” is the PC term because it’s supposedly not gender-specific.

But that's not true. "Actor" has always meant a male who acts and the female version is "Actress". So why, if we’re going to go “sexless”, do we go with the male term and not the female?

I personally refer to myself as an Actress, because I’m a girl (and I think that’s an important quality of my product – which is me). Don’t insult me by calling me a boy.

So I now insist, that weather you’re a boy or a girl, the correct PC term for a performer in film, TV and stage is "Actress" for anyone who acts.

Thank you,
Red

P.S. This new development holds true across the PC board. It's  now PC to use words such as: waitress, seamstress, doctress, stewardess, maid, mistress, songstress and any other term to describe all persons (male and female) in each respective business instead using the previously favored masculine term.

Don't restrict your food intake: let your body decide.

I believe this for 2 very important reasons:

1. Who's happy when they feel limited?
2. It's not fun to focus on something as mundane as food intake.

Besides, we all know what we like, so just eat it.

When you have a craving for a certain food it's because that's what your body needs at that time. Trust it. Because if you have a craving and you don't fulfill it, you’ll suck down everything else and still not be satisfied. You know what I'm talking about!

Limiting your food consumption based on some ideas that someone else has about what's the best way to eat can be dangerous. Restricting your consumption often triggers feelings of deprivation which many over compensate for by eating even more.

There are 2 ways we are told to restrict our food intake: by portion or by type of food (e.g."don't eat fat") or both. I find that if we don't restrict what we eat then the portions take care of themselves.

Our bodies tell us what and how much we need. If we hold back on our food intake and don't eat enough sustenance to fuel our body, we'll crave highly caloric items - because our body is still hungry and is afraid it's starving. It's our body's way of taking care or itself. We all know when we are full. So stop eating when you are -- even if there is food left on the plate. Simple.

Or on other point, if we don't eat what we want when we want it, we'll try to satisfy that craving with other foods and find we eat far more that we intended because the body's craving is not satiated.

Having a piece of chocolate is much better for you than eating 15 helpings of fruit (if for no other reason, then you can stop focusing on the food craving and move on with your daily life)

If you pay attention to your body, you'll have the exact physical body you should.

So...just eat it!

The truth is, I may not know a lot about things of importance, like world history or the latest trends (although I try to keep up). But I do know people and I know myself.

I trust myself and I know what it is to love and to have a passion for something. I know what it is to live truly and to appreciate each moment.

These are the things I want to share with you -- all the time!

I profess great words of wisdom like; "I will not let my life be ruled by fear" or "I will not allow my decisions to be determined by my financial situation" (which is the same thing – but not exactly). And I believe that living fearlessly is the best way to be free in life.  I think everyone can benefit from this outlook although many won't take heed or will be too driven by other things to see how they get in their own way.

This is not to say that there haven't been times when I've allowed fear or other factors to determine my behavior, choices, censor my communications, and even change my hairstyle. But restricting myself has never really worked for me.

So, I do my best to live in a way that doesn't steal my focus from my present experience. And I do this by making the decision to do so.

All it takes is to recognize that the only one limiting my life, myself and my desires. . . is me.

Do you ever feel like you spend a large amount of your life waiting?
Waiting for the train, waiting for the weekend, waiting for right time. . .waiting for life to begin.

Well, stop waiting! If you don't than you look back on your life and feel like you missed it. Remember life is happening right now. In front of you, beside, behind you. . .
All around you.

Join in!

I recently found myself looking forward to spending time with a particular person and found that much of my day (though busy with activities and fun, productive tasks) was spent daydreaming about the time we'd get to spend together once the day was over. And when all the waiting was for naught -- because at the end of the day, the day was over. And we didn't get together -- I felt desperately let-down.

But it made me think about what I would be doing with my creative energy if I wasn't just waiting. I'm not a waiter (I don't serve you food) and it's generally in my nature to take an active role in determining where I want my life to go. And take the necessary steps to make things happen. 

While I was waiting, I realized that I had been letting life live me, instead of deliberately living my life.

I'm not saying we shouldn't day dream - greatness comes from imagination, dreams and visions - I'm just saying don't miss the opportunity to move your life forward. You don't want to be left behind because you're waiting for something better. Use those daydreams to make each moment a magical experience.

Although there are times it's restful to simply let life take it's course, resting for long creates lethargy and a feeling of being trapped. It makes us forget that we have the power, the control to determine every detail of our lives.

So, remember you're in charge of your life direction. You can have and do anything you put your mind to. If you don't believe me than try what I do and see if I'm wrong. . .

Stop waiting and live a deliberate life.

If you don’t like it change it, or at least enjoy the discomfort.

No one is really a victim because we have the power to change everything with a look, a smile, a touch or a word.

Everything counts and yet nothing is counted against you.

I believe that each hardship I come across is a beautiful chance to experience another part of the human adventure and it often give me and opportunity to confirm what I already suspected. 

And if not  . . .  I can always use it in my work.

The only way I know how to do it is to live now, in each moment. This moment is all we have – literally. There is no other.

I’m not saying I have no memories of previous events or hopes for the future. I even have worries sometimes, believe it or not. . . but I know that at the end of the day, my life is one moment long and if I’m true in that moment I’ll have no regrets and the memories will be magic.

I have had (and will continue to have) a fascinating life. As a matter of fact . . . I’m having a fascinating life right now.

Sometimes I listen to myself and I sound so altruistic, idealistic, and optimistic. But I’m really not. I think I’m realistic, although many would dispute me on that. I think I'm realistic because I believe that anything and everything is possible.

I can have it all.  I don’t need to compromise, or settle, or make due. Settling only causes resentments and regrets. And I like to live my life regret-free.

This takes more courage than you might think.

It means being willing to be open to anything and to be ready to let go of it at the same time. It takes trust in your own resilience and a good helping of fearlessness. . . qualities I believe that we all have.

I live on the edge of my emotions.

Some people say I'm too emotional because I don’t run from my feelings; I cry out loud (without reservation) and I laugh hard (even when others think it’s wrong). Maybe some people think I’m crazy. And in a way I am (in the good way).

But the only way I know how to be, is to be honest with myself and with others about what I’m experiencing. And my experiences are rich with feeling. Otherwise, I figure, what’s the point?

Why pretend that we are not emotional beings or say that we can control our feelings when really -- Why should we? They are what makes us human, and real, and exciting.

It's living on the edge.

Now listen, I’m not saying to sit and wallow, or be a psycho. I’m saying that it’s emotions that make life full; that paying attention to them, experiencing them, and expressing them is what give life it’s meaning.

How boring life would be without passion. And passion is emotions with the volume turned up -- isn't it?

That’s why we like movies, because they make us feel something! And, whether we admit it or not, that’s what we want -- to be touched in someway -- to be moved.

So, I’m not afraid to acknowledge and express my feelings. I do it freely and openly. I find that when I don’t, I don’t feel good.

To ignore what’s going on with me is untrue; it robs me (and others) of fully experiencing who I am -- And that doesn't work for me. So, you won't find me there. I'll be where a passion for life is celebrated. I'll be living on the edge of my emotions.

So I invite you too. Come on over to the edge

. . .it's a beautiful view.