Lights....Camera....Travel Channel?

#6 - Try something you know nothing about

About two months after my ex had ended our relationship, you could say that I was going through quite the transitional phase. I tried to busy myself with work, friends, partying, writing, photography, looking into grad school, and anything and everything to keep my mind off of the pain I was still feeling. It didn't matter what I tried, because it seemed as though no matter how busy I was, reality set back in and the tears were not that far behind.

Celebrating my 24th birthday, I decided it was time for a change. I was tired of allowing this toxic relationship take over my life; I needed to try a new project, something for myself. Before, I had just done things for everyone else. Be good with the family. Be there for my ex. Do the best job I could do with my job.... 

.....but what about me? 

I was so consumed with the idea of immersing myself in other people's stories that I forgot how to write my own. What were my interests? My likes? My hobbies? And when I turned 24, I decided that it was time to find that something that I needed. 

One day, while perusing one of my favorite websites, The Travel Channel website, I came across a workshop to learn more about travel film-making. I had many friends in college who were Theatre & Media majors, who knew how to create beautiful masterpieces and direct amazing plays. And then there was me.....who knew nothing about sound studios and video-editing. It was perfect! I needed a release and I didn't care about the repercussions or consequences. This was my way of coping and moving forward.

That's not to say I wasn't met with opposition. My boss at the time fought me tooth and nail about taking the time off for it. (I won in the end.) My ex felt he should add in his two cents and tell me that he didn't understand why I was taking a class about something I knew nothing about. (I reminded him that I didn't need his approval anymore, we were done.) My friends were excited and slightly apprehensive, but I knew what I wanted to do: I needed to take that class.

After sending in my contact information (and a rather meaty deposit), I was nothing short of excited for learning more about how the Travel Channel wrote and filmed their many show segments. Michael Rosenblum, an extremely kind (and talented) film-maker, was heading the class with his beautiful wife, Lisa, and various assistants, Tim, Kelly, and Graham. 

For the next four days, my life was consumed with 10-hour classes consisting of finding video content, consent forms, sound editing, and writing segment dialogue....as a journalism major, I had never been at such a loss for material! True, I did excel at print media, but a video camera changed the game. I needed to find pieces that were interesting, visually and aurally. 

They had us out and about in Manhattan, locating interesting those interesting stories and shooting the video content for our segment projects. One day I was in a warm bakery preparing for Valentine's Day, the next freezing my ass off in Union Square to talk to a wine-maker. Having to search for that "story" scared and exhilarated me in a way that I hadn't felt in years. Frankly, it equated to the same feeling I got in college when I figured out what article I wanted to write for my journalism class. (Later, when I talked to Matt about the class, he was so proud that I was trying out something that brought me back to my passion.)

During that time in class, I also had the chance to make a few new friends. While I can't remember everyone's name, I do remember when I first met Davina. A journalism graduate of UNC- Chapel Hill, we clicked the moment we had the chance to talk. In fact, the day we finished our little "boot camp," me, Davina, Kristie, Jason, Graham, and a handful of others all wandered over to ESPN Zone for some drinks and some unwinding. Davina and I shared more than just drinks and photos that night, we started what I believe to be a pretty awesome friendship. Every now and then, we check in with each other and catch up on life. I'm grateful that I learned about more than just film-making in those four days: I actually got the chance to make friends and create memories for myself.

I may not use those film-making skills often, but I have no regrets. I realized that sometimes people need to do things that may not make sense to anyone but them. I found myself in that class, found the need to continue learning & growing on my own, without others to advise me.  

~Jenn

"Good things happen when you meet strangers" - Yo Yo Ma

#5 - Befriend a stranger

Now, I know our families always say "Don't talk to strangers" when we're little kids. In fact, I'll guarantee every kid has received the same speech in one way or another. But many who know me understand that I tend to march to the beat of my own drum. I'm not a person who conforms easily, if at all. Quite the opposite, actually.

You see, for me, being a social butterfly comes kinda naturally. I know a few people would consider me shy or reserved, but when opportunity knocks for a chance encounter....the world is in my favor.

I've met all different walks of life in the most random places. From the grocery store checkout counter, to the train to & from NYC, even on an airplane; yet if I had to pick the most interesting person I have befriended, it would have to be Carlos, an NJIT student (now graduate.) At first, we would just see each other on the platform at Linden Train Station, waiting for the morning train to our respective places. It wasn't until at least a couple of months in that we had our first exchange of hellos and soon after that, making sure to sit with one another on the train in order to continue our conversation from the platform.

While I never really talked about Carlos with anyone, it was nice to have an outside perspective from my everyday norm. On the days I would show up with red eyes from yet another fight with my ex, Carlos would sit there and remind me how wonderful I was to talk to and that whatever happened, life would work out in my favor. And on the happier days, we would talk about how we were doing with our work and with life. 

2005-2006 had come and gone with Carlos along for the ride, at least to Newark Penn. Although it was only a matter of time that Carlos would graduate and I would find a job outside of the city; our brief companionship on the train was something that looking back now,  probably one of the few things to keep me sane in such a crazy time of my life.

I mean, I was getting engaged (although not to the right person), in my first job right out of college, moving out of my parent's house, having roommate issues, friend issues, family issues, pressure of being something I wasn't, and nothing was completely stable. Having at least someone outside of all of those circles kept me balanced, and I realized that chance encounters are what aid you in those times of need, the unbiased opinion. The one to help me see through all of the stress and know that if I didn't focus on myself a little bit, I would crack. 

I still check up on Carlos via FB every once in a while, even though it is highly unlikely with our current paths in life that we will ever meet again. But who knows? Maybe a few years down the line, we may meet again and just like old friends, catch up on our lives to the next destination in our journey. 

~Jenn

You take away the breath I was keeping for sunrise....

#4 - Watch the sunrise

There has always been something about a sunrise that intrigues me. Maybe it's the various hues of color that occur as the sun peeks out of the horizon. Possibly the thought of seeing a natural occurrence of nature happen before my eyes. Or maybe sunrises are just cooler than sunsets. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that I had two instances in my life where I was able to watch the sunrise. And both were meaningful in different ways.

The first time I saw the sunrise, I was 18 years old. After my first year at college, I was home for the summer and offered to be my friend Joe's date to his senior prom. On top of looking absolutely hot and fierce, we were also spending the weekend down in Wildwood after the prom....it was the only time I went down the shore after any prom, including my own. The drive down was fun, in a car full of strangers (to me) and my best friend at the time. 

When we reached the motel and checked in, Joe, his friend Lauren, and myself were the only three left awake. With sunrise only minutes away, we decided to walk to the boardwalk and start off the weekend on a fun note. In our comfiest sweats and hoodies, the three of us strolled down the boardwalk, watching the hues of the sky change with every step. That moment was breath-taking, everything that I had hoped it would be. A moment shared with some good friends and sweet memories. That sunrise symbolized so much to me at the time: the end of my first year of college, a beginning to the rest of my life. 

Roughly 6 1/2 years later, at 25 years old, I experienced my second sunrise. On the way home from one of Matt's shows, I was driving over the Manasquan River Bridge at the wee hours of the morning. The gig the night before had been in White Plains, NY, which meant a late start (midnight), going into the wee hours of the morning (3:30 am). Matt was asleep next to me, my large cup of coffee nestled right in the cup holder. And there it was, as I crossed the bridge, those pastel hues of dawn. You know, I couldn't remember what song was on the radio or what I wore, but in that instant....I felt so strongly about seeing that sunrise and everything it symbolized to me.

From that first sunrise to the second one, so much had changed in my life. From college, to boys, to career choices, even my friends, everything was so different from what I thought my life would be. Yet it didn't matter, the sun would always come out for another day. There would always be another chance to make my life all that I dreamed of. That my life was not close to over, but merely beginning what I consider "the best part." Just that realization moved me to such tears....and I smiled, knowing wherever my story took me, the possibilities would be endless.

There will be other sunrises, I'm sure of this. And I'm also sure that when I see it, my life will be in a much different place than it was the time before. I can't wait to see what the next one brings. 

~Jenn