Sofia Loren once said: “There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Although I’ve never met Sofia, if I did, I’d give her a High-5 just for the inspirational reminder in that brief spot-on statement.
The dictionary defines creativity a bit more traditionally saying it is “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.”
Whatever definition your choose for creativity is fine — as long as you choose to embrace your creative being.
When speaking with those whose creative juices have been stagnated, suppressed, ignored or relegated to the “Someday when I have more time I’ll…(do whatever you’re dreaming about)” — most express to me that they feel like they are dead or dying…as in being buried alive. Conversely, as the fabulous Sofia reminds us, when I meet those who are embracing their own personal brand of creative expression, I witness their joy and they 
make all those around them feel more alive. When we choose to welcome and embrace our creative nature, the entire world seems to open up for us as: Allowing us to make our entrance as we also begin to see life through rose-colored glasses.
I never know what doors will open in my life, but I do know that as long as nobody can get hurt, I’ll probably run right through that open door and wholly embrace whatever opportunity may await on the other side. Although I write daily, which serves as a creative outlet, and I have the good fortune of fascinating conversations as I’m hired to thoughtfully consult with those hiring me for advice, thanks to our son’s love of skateboarding, a new door to creativity has opened for me. It has triggered an incredibly fun series of events that have reinvigorated my life in most unexpected ways as I enter what I hope marks the second half of my life.
A guy we know from the Chelsea Pier 62 Skatepark told me that Old Navy was casting a commercial and seeking a “crew” of 10-13 year old skateboarders. He recommended my (our) son. On the day of the audition, I found myself speaking to the fascinating international young woman who was the casting agent. A couple of days after finding out our son got the job, the same casting agent emailed me about a print campaign opportunity for a national clothing retailer. Ultimately, both my daughter and I were cast for this job. At the same time, my best friend’s daughter, who is a long established talent agent, asked if she could submit me for a TV host position. It was quite thrilling to be asked, and I was quite surprised when I booked this hosting job, too. 
Next, just for kicks I responded to an ad in Backstage for a national hair brand that a big name photographer was casting. I was called a few hours later and invited to audition the next day. I got the job. Subsequently, the agent who cast me for host role recommended that I speak with another agent. Our “I will only have 15 minute meeting” lasted a solid two and a half hours. The agent offered to represent me as a commercial actor. Shortly thereafter, I was booked for magazine editorials as well as a many other national campaigns –while passing on certain opportunities, solely due to conflicts. Recently I was offered and accepted the exciting dream opportunity to join Wilhelmina Models New York, Icon Division as well as Aperture Talent.
So, in addition to the companies I own and actively manage, I’m also working as a lifestyle and fashion model and actor. The funny thing is that I’m a big believer in whatever you visualize is what will manifest.
I have no idea where this will lead, but I am grateful for every moment…and I’ll keep visualizing and working to actualize more. I have been reinvigorated in all areas of my life through having the opportunity to meet creative, interesting people who for the majority are incredibly cool and grateful for their livelihoods.
I am learning an entirely new industry from the ground up. I’m an amoeba in the multi-billion dollar commercial, advertising and fashion industries. It’s new to me, thoroughly educational, highly thought-provoking, totally inspirational and majorly fun. More so, I’m not in control–which is very unlike most of my work, which requires high level messaging, strategizing and often thoughtful crisis management. In my work in this venture, I have only a glimpse of the 
vision for the campaign; I don’t know what the creative team envisions and deems “right” before airtime or publication; I don’t know what the photographer is seeing through his/her lens; I have no clue what the casting director is seeking in the casting call; I don’t control how the stylist will choose my wardrobe; I am merely a canvas for what the make up artist will do to my face and hair. And you know what? It’s all good. For me, life is all about balance. Right now, my career as a strategic public relations advisor is being balanced with my adjacent career as a model. Life is good.
What creative outlet(s) can you embrace to express your creativity?
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