They say the new year is a time for new beginnings. A whole new chance to begin again. New year, new you, or maybe a new me. Possibly the same old me, just one that I haven't seen in a while.
It's that time of the year when we get the opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new one ahead. For me the last year has really been a great opportunity to grow and expand my awareness of all kinds of things from health/wellness and going almost totally vegan to changes in fitness. The year I began to really love yoga. Which for a girl who spent most of her life doing all kind of crazy workouts, is actually quite surprising. I never thought I would love it as much as I do. In fact it has been the best thing for my back. Having sustained a back injury in two close-dated car accidents years back, really put a damper on the crazy workouts. Since I started to do yoga regularly, honestly my back hurts if I "don't"do yoga.
Anyhow back to my original thought. It happened kind of randomly actually, but it got me to thinking. My acting representative was visiting shortly before Christmas. He started to tease me a bit about the fact that he has a hard time finding jobs to submit me for. As there are far less castings for blondes than for brunettes. If you are at a certain level in an entertainment career you can have your hair any color and mostly people adjust to you, or you change it for a role, then put it back as needed. However, until that point, you kind of need to be able to "be" what is being cast. So if a role says "female 30-40 brunette" he can't send me if my hair is blonde.
Unless, my inside voice started to say "unless I wear a wig". So the next chance I had I dragged the Mr. along to some local wig shops. Just to get an idea of how I would look, because honestly I had not seen it in so long I couldn't even remember how I looked as a brunette.
Yes it is true, I did not come from the manufacturer (the man upstairs)with blonde hair. So I put on a few and of course none of the pictures below are what I have in mind, but making use of what they had in the shop, I took a few fun pics just to see how I looked in a dark hairdo. So here ya go:
Holy 90's hairdo & way dark... but it's what they had!
Whole lotta hair & super dark with BANGS! (Good gravy)
As you can see, I look quite different, it was a bit shocking for me. Of course these are much darker than my hair actually grows out of my noggin. However, it was fun to try them on an see a different version of me. So in order to be cooperative with my acting rep, I am going to humor him and comply with his request. Hey what do I have to loose? If it works I can have more opportunities for acting work. If not, I can always put it back if I don't like it.
My plan, is to just go light brown with some blonde in the front more along the lines of Jennifer Anniston. To have even more options, I am also going to order a wig online in a medium brown ,and then have my talented Mr. (being a super awesome photographer is one of his many talents) take headshots of me in both colors. This way my acting rep has more options.
This my friends is how the new year is going to bring a new version of the old me. What are your plans for the New Year? Do you have any resolutions, big ones, small ones? Whatever they are try to keep a positive mindset. I think sometimes we can set big goals and then beat ourselves up if we don't accomplish everything all at once or as quickly as we might like.
Remember to be grateful for the past year and thankful for every day, because it is a gift. We only get one day at a time and that my friends is the best advice I can give as to how to roll into the New Year.
Wishing you and yours a beautiful, blessed and HAPPY New Year!
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for the underdog... what can I say, I just love a good comeback. (They also know I love coffee, dogs, sneakers, flip flops, and my favorite movie of all time is Rocky - all of them). So I'm sure it will come as no surprise that I was so excited I had to pinch myself when I learned about the new movie "Southpaw" starring Jake Gyllenhaal (not just because I'm left handed either). No worries, Greek Girl isn't going to spoil the ending. What happens in the movie is a blog for another day.
However when I saw the trailer for the film it reminded me about some things that have inspired me over the past few years. One so much so, that I was compelled to share it again. You may have seen the transformational video on social media, or on the TV Show Shark Tank... called "Arthur's Story". Arthur Boorman was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War who lived with pain for fifteen years, and was told by his doctors that he would never be able to walk on his own, ever again.
He stumbled upon an article about Diamond Dallas Page doing Yoga and decided to try it. He couldn't do typical high impact exercise, so he tried DDP YOGA, and sent an email to tell Dallas his story.
Dallas was so moved by Arthur's story, he began emailing and speaking on the phone with him throughout his journey. Dallas encouraged Arthur to keep going and to believe that anything was possible. Doctors told Arthur walking would never happen, but he was persistent. He fell many times, but kept going.
Arthur got stronger, and lost weight at an amazing rate. Because of DDP's unique workout, he gained incredible balance and flexibility, which gave him hope that maybe someday, he'd be able to walk again.
Arthur's story is proof that we shouldn't place limits on our capabilities. Often we don't even know our own potential. Niether Arthur, nor Dallas knew what he would go on to accomplish. In less than one year, Arthur completely transformed his life. If only he had known what he was capable of doing fifteen years earlier.
I'm passionate about sharing this story not only because it is incredibly motivating, but because I have also experienced the benefits of this amazing program. As a person who suffered injuries and has experienced physical setbacks, I can tell you how much DDP Yoga has helped me both physically and mentally. His positive energy, his own story of going from physically broken to back in the game and helping others to do the same are simply irresistible.
In case you don't know Diamond Dallas Page is not only a three-time professional wrestling heavyweight champion, but he is also an incredibly inspiring motivational figure and speaker. His career spanned two decades, and he entered the ring at thirty five years old. Many pro athletes are forced into retirement at that age. Years of wrestling left him with major injuries to his neck, back, shoulders and knees. Injuries that could not only end his career, but also affect his quality of life.
His answer to his injuries was DDP Yoga. A system he designed that allows you to work at your own ability, and with consistency grow stronger every day. Don't waste precious time thinking you're stuck. You can take control over your circumstances, no matter what life has thrown your way. Change might come faster than you might think, or it might take longer than you planned. All that matters is doing your best.
I've loved physical fitness as long as I can remember. Where most women have a collection of high heels, Greek Girl has collection of "sneakers". Recently I found some Presidents Physical Fitness Awards from elementary and middle school up in my moms attic while visiting. Looking at them reminded me that we don't have to give up the things we love; no matter badly we may have been knocked down. That is, as long as we continue to get back up.
Hopefully Arthur's story can inspire you to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. For me, I just try every day to do my very best, and let God do the rest. No I may not be where I used to be, I may not be where I want to be. I know on the road to any goal all that matters is that you;
Get up, show up, do what you can... then one day you will be "doing the thing you think you can't".
It's that time again... Time to pack up the winter clothes and get out the warm weather stuff. It's the time of year that can make people start to think about how "out of shape" they have become over the winter. Especially since this has been an extremely long and for many of us a brutal winter. Which only makes me that much more giddy on those days when the thermometer goes above 45 degrees and I can smell that spring is indeed in the air, old man winter is dying, and will soon breathe his last breath for the year.
Like so many others I'm thinking about summer, summer clothes and fitting into them. Some people might not know this but I used to be a "chunker" as a little Greek Girl. It wasn't until I was an adult that I really got into fitness, healthy eating, working out as a lifestyle and ended up losing over 35 lbs. Now I was never "fat" by any means, I was just well... lets say "well fed". I worked really hard to lose the weight and maintain it for several years, and it was not that difficult, that is until the car accidents.
What car accidents? Some of my blog readers and followers of my music are aware of what happened; For those who are not, my husband and I were in two car accidents two years ago. First we were rear ended by an SUV while stopped at a stop light, pushing us into the car in front of us, totaling my car (RIP "Johnny Jetta" - I had only had about 3 months at the time). Anyway we both suffered several injuries including multiple herniated disks, and probably the most difficult is the Traumatic Brain Injury. Ironically while on the way to the chiropractor less than six months later, we were rear ended again while stopped at a stop light. Which was unbelievable I know, I still can't believe it myself. Needless to say the second rear ending only made everything worse including the TBI.
Now I won't go into the gory details about it because first and foremost we are alive and we have each other. Although we struggle every day just to do things we never even thought about before the accidents, we are thankful for our health and realize that so many other people in the world struggle with worse health problems. Now why am I telling you about all this muckery?... There is a point, bear with me.
See the thing is, my life changed forever that day. It changed for both of us, my husband used to be a fit model, and was even the standing fit model for Marc Jacobs for six seasons. I was in the middle of doing a transformation for a national fitness infomercial for a new product launch. Which I had to drop out of, as I was unable to continue to do hours of high impact cardio and workout to the level required daily. So in the aftermath of trying to recover we both had a choice to make... We have spent the last two years in recovery, doing physical therapy, chiropractic, epidurals, trigger point injections, massage, you name it we have probably tried it.
I even bought a teeter inversion table www.teeter-inversion.com - which is probably one of the reasons I am able to walk around today. I can not say enough about it and it has helped tremendously. But the thing is... everyone at some point in their lives has to struggle with some sort of physical limitations. Weather it be from a car accident, a fall, or weight issues... everyone will at some point, at some time will face something that challenges their physical body. There will come a time when it will literally come down to mind over matter. I know you might be thinking "What are you talking about Greek Girl?... Sounds like gobble goop to me".
Hear me out. Most people who know me know one thing about me, "Rocky" is one of my favorite movies of all time. I can never tire of watching any of them, and Rocky is one of my heroes. The never give up spirit is something I have always connected with, especially having spent my entire life pursuing my musical dream. However never in my life have I ever really understood what "Never Give Up" meant until now. The TBI is different than the physical stuff, and really besides diet, sleep, and therapy for it, and adjusting how you do things, slowing down ,etc. there is nothing that is going to "make it better". Other than being frustrated when you do something like say leave the stove on for seven hours while you are home and have no idea... it is just frustrating more than anything else, but with it there is no "pain". With the physical things though, there is pain. Your body hurts and the last thing at times you want to do is go "workout".
I've been here, thinking to myself... "I don't need to go exercise I'm injured and I should just relax". This is where so many people get stuck. Stuck to the point where it spirals out of control and their bodies become a prison. I have dealt with it and it takes a conscious effort, choosing every day to do it because it is helping your body to become stronger. Making that choice all starts in the mind. The mind tells your boy what it can and can not do, and your "will" is the gas pedal. Shortly after the second car accident I saw this video on youtube titled "Never Ever Give Up" .
It brought me to tears. It's about a man named Arthur who was a disabled veteran. He was injured from many years of jumping out of airplanes. The doctors told him he would never walk unassisted ever again. He lost hope, and he gained a lot of weight. His story is so incredible and honestly just like Rocky movies I can not get tired of seeing it. I have posted it many times to my Facebook page, but it just seemed so appropriate to spotlight again in relation to "Spring Training".
You see, every single one of us has a struggle. There is something that everyone thinks is out of reach, something that they can never do. The beautiful thing about Arthur's story is he shows us that anyone can change if they put their mind to it. You can change your story and climb your mountain, but you have to make up your mind to do it. You have to tell your body that you will not allow it to keep your spirit locked in a prison. I hope you will enjoy watching his story and seeing where he is today as much as I do, and that you will share it with someone you know who has lost hope. Who thinks they are too far gone, who thinks they can never overcome their obstacle. Arthur shows us that anything is possible, anything... you just have to believe in yourself.
Warning: True story alert. For people who have been reading my blog a while, you know how the Greek Girl rolls. I call it like I see it and do not accept the "status quo". So for people who are perfectly happy to accept things as they are, well this blog might be a little uncomfortable for you. Anyone else grab your favorite beverage and read on.
The past week had been well... let's just say I've had better weeks. I'm sure you can relate. Everyone has at some point or another experienced times when the road to getting to where we want to go can be a bit difficult. Normally when people tell me no, or that something can't be done, I just stuff my ears full of cotton balls and go "la la la la la"... Onward and upward.
However in this instance it just irked me. I was considering new representation for my acting (and my music or so I thought). Well... what else is Greek Girl going to do while Mr. Bricks is off doing his "Rat Pack of Hollywood" books? Someone has to bang down the doors to get me my record deal dangit. So anyway I was having a phone conversation with a manager I met through a friend. Not an A list guy, but definitely a step in the right direction. To make a long story short, the following is how the conversation went:
Manager: "So how old are you?"
Ava: "How old do you want me to be?... (laughing) well, how old do I look - you have seen me in person up close. Do you want my real age or my actor age?" Then I tell him my real age.
Manager: "Oh, wow I wouldn't have guessed that."
Ava: "Thank you."
Manager: "Well, I can't do anything for you with music. You are too old, the gate keepers do not allow new artists to be your age." "So I would rather focus on your acting, then after you get some notoriety, then maybe that can open up an opportunity."
I'm sure you can imagine what my inside voice was saying. Seriously... "Do Not Allow" Um when did people start "allowing" anyone to do anything anyhow? Are we talking about pre school here where we have to ask permission? Note to such "gatekeepers". People who buy music (you know the ones who are not buying the crap you keep putting out artist after artist) they do not give two flying flips how old the artist is who is singing the music. If it makes them feel something, they like it, it's that simple.
Why not look for music that makes you feel something first, then worry about how to market it. Putting the package ahead of the talent is the downfall of the entire music industry. Setting up this unspoken rule that no new female artists are allowed above the age of 28 is utter insanity. I predict that if the music industry continues to churn out, use up and spit out the same thing year after year, it will not only continue to see losses, but it very well could be it's undoing. When "executives" who do not know their ___ from their elbow, are sitting there making decisions, meanwhile grammy wining producers are selling jingles to make a living because they can not even get a meeting at a record label these days... that is a problem.
Needless to say I did not sign with the new manager. My point in telling you all this is so you can have an idea of what was going on inside my noggin when I saw the video I'm about to tell you about. So the following morning I'm scrolling through my facebook newsfeed when I see a video titled "Never Ever Give Up".
By the end of the video I was in tears. Not only because it light an even bigger fire in me to reach my own goals, but because it reminded me that nothing is impossible for anyone. No matter what you desire (for me a record deal) but it could be a new job, a mate, fly a plane, be a ballerina, be president, run a marathon, get out of debt, be cured of cancer, whatever you can imagine... and yes even to lose over 140 lbs, if you have it deep down in your gut. If you know like you know like you know you know, and you believe in yourself, it IS possible.
I've been at this a long time, and I am not about to let anyone tell me that it is not possible. All of us can do whatever it is that we put our minds to. It all comes down to your will. How strong is it? Do you hang in there when the going gets tough? When everyone tells you that is can not happen, it's been too long, you do not have the right contacts, the right background, the right this, the right that, blah blah blah.... I want you to do like I do. Stuff you ears full of cotton balls and go "la la la la la I can't hear you".
I wrote my newest song "I Don't Even Care" because if this exact thing. A few lines: "Don't let them tell you what you're gonna be or gonna do - don't make a left don't make a right just look in front of you". The message is simple: Don't let other people tell you what you can or can not do and keep your eyes focused on the goal. Just like the man named Arthur in this video, a Military Veteran. He tapped into his will and was able to defy the odds and do what everyone told him was impossible. Everyone had given up on him, and he had listened to them for so long, he had even given up on himself.
But because of one man, a professional wrestler and yoga teacher named Diamond Dallas who believed in him, Arthur started to believe in himself again. He found his will and focused on his goal until he reached it. I wish that more people would be like that yoga teacher. To be the one person who believes in someone even when they don't believe in themselves anymore. Help someone to see that nothing, no matter how big is impossible. Hope you have a beautiful day!
Blessings, Love & Music ~ Ava :D xox www.avaaston.com
