Two Year Mark
We are coming up on two years back in Austin. Two years happens to be the exact time I lived here last time.
It was right after graduating college. I came to Austin because I wanted to start a professional career as an actress, but I wasn't ready to make the move to Hollywood just yet. I accomplished a lot in those 2 short years. I secured my first agent, used professional headshots, worked on film for the first time, and even booked lead roles in independent feature films. In those 2 short years, I grew up a lot, as a person and an actor, and I was ready to fully go after my dream. I knew that meant having to go back to square one, humbling myself, and working as an extra for a year and a half before booking my first speaking role on TV.
For my 10 years in LA, I've thought about moving back to Austin several times. At every anniversary, I would reminisce about my short time in Austin and how much I loved living there, the great people I met in my short time, and the awesome experiences I had. I would often say that Austin is where I would love to settle down and raise a family. I remember towards the end of my 10 years there, talking to a friend of mine about how I missed Austin and I would love to move back again someday...and she finally said "Lydia! You say that every year! You should just do it already!"
I thought to myself..."Yes. She's right. I say that every year. What's holding me back?"
I think it was the fear of leaving something I worked so hard for. This dream that I've always had. I made it part of my identity. If I left - what would I do, who would I be?
I had to leave when it felt right for me. When I was finally ready to step away and focus on something else.
It's funny how my life came full circle. I've noticed that a few times in my life. I remember working as an extra many times on the show Strong Medicine - and it was so surreal when I booked that show as my first job. Arriving to set, and not going straight to the extras holding room and "checking in" - but finding an AD and being led to my dressing room. I remember sitting in the makeup chair, enjoying every minute of this full circle experience. I was on cloud 9.
And here I am today, back in Austin for two years now, raising my family and calling Austin home again. It was around this time in my first stay in Austin that I was packing up and getting ready for a move to Hollywood. How much I have changed since then! How much of life I have experienced and lived! I feel like I'm 80 years old! haha But I am grateful for everything I've been through in my life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. All those experiences have led me to here. Now.
It feels good to be home. :)
It was right after graduating college. I came to Austin because I wanted to start a professional career as an actress, but I wasn't ready to make the move to Hollywood just yet. I accomplished a lot in those 2 short years. I secured my first agent, used professional headshots, worked on film for the first time, and even booked lead roles in independent feature films. In those 2 short years, I grew up a lot, as a person and an actor, and I was ready to fully go after my dream. I knew that meant having to go back to square one, humbling myself, and working as an extra for a year and a half before booking my first speaking role on TV.
For my 10 years in LA, I've thought about moving back to Austin several times. At every anniversary, I would reminisce about my short time in Austin and how much I loved living there, the great people I met in my short time, and the awesome experiences I had. I would often say that Austin is where I would love to settle down and raise a family. I remember towards the end of my 10 years there, talking to a friend of mine about how I missed Austin and I would love to move back again someday...and she finally said "Lydia! You say that every year! You should just do it already!"
I thought to myself..."Yes. She's right. I say that every year. What's holding me back?"
I think it was the fear of leaving something I worked so hard for. This dream that I've always had. I made it part of my identity. If I left - what would I do, who would I be?
I had to leave when it felt right for me. When I was finally ready to step away and focus on something else.
It's funny how my life came full circle. I've noticed that a few times in my life. I remember working as an extra many times on the show Strong Medicine - and it was so surreal when I booked that show as my first job. Arriving to set, and not going straight to the extras holding room and "checking in" - but finding an AD and being led to my dressing room. I remember sitting in the makeup chair, enjoying every minute of this full circle experience. I was on cloud 9.
And here I am today, back in Austin for two years now, raising my family and calling Austin home again. It was around this time in my first stay in Austin that I was packing up and getting ready for a move to Hollywood. How much I have changed since then! How much of life I have experienced and lived! I feel like I'm 80 years old! haha But I am grateful for everything I've been through in my life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. All those experiences have led me to here. Now.
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