Dreams do Come True

I watched with empathy, and enthusiasm as each participant auditioned (in Milwaukee ) for American Idol. With empathy, because the auditions took me back to my 20's and early 30's when I was single and earning my living as a legal secretary but pursuing my dream to be a working actor, regulary auditioning for commercials, small parts, plays, and theater troups. I held a deep passion for the art of acting, and did it well, but, I didn't audition very well. The anticipation of being called for an audition, and leading up to my entering the room standing before the casting director, cameraman, or whomever else, oh how my body filled with a bundle of butterflies and shivered and shook like a leaf blowing in the Santa Ana winds -  one time, so much so, I couldn't even hold my script still enough to read it. Another time, reading with another actor, I was to read the part (off camera) of the director. Out of me came this manufactured, deep, rather awkward director-ish sounding voice of authority, to which I startled not only myself, but the other actor, and the crew...but committment, baby, it's all about comittment...so I went with it. Needless to say I didn't get that part, and I think I really pissed off the actor I was reading with. I can laugh about it all now, but then,  getting the part was everything to me . . .my golden ticket out of my opressed redundant work-world of being a legal secretary. I held (tightly, I might add) to the belief that becoming a working actor was thee only way out for me. I had nothing else to draw upon - no pun intended. So, I empathized last night as those who were turned away cried because they were leaving without their golden ticket, likely believing this was the only way to realize their dream.

Do you have a dream? Do you beieve there is only one way to follow your dreams and to live them?

I once believed acting was my only golden ticket.

Well, fast forward a decade in my life, during which I married and became a mom - I knew I would be needing to return to work at some point and with acting now not an option, neither was returning to an office in any capacity. I knew I wanted to be home, raising my girls, but, living in Los Angeles, as is the case for many, two (if not more) incomes are needed. So, as I cared for my two little ladybugs, knowing a return to some kind of work was imminent, I allowed my creative mind to go to work, and my intuition to guide & prepare me to re-enter the work world.

I like to think of myself/my work, and my professional journey (I am paraphrasing from conversation with my dear friend Aaron Christensen and the awesomness of his thought process) as a slow burning star, one that is contant, one that will brighten your darkened day (or night) and will always be here when you look for it - a constant. My creative journey began about 8 years ago, as I designed pieces for my own home (the result of a modest single income family). This grew into gaining the confidence to show my work to local retailers, a couple of whom agreed to sell a few of my pieces, and others who told me, "oh we only buy from (trade) shows"

to present day - today

where I have

my very own window display of products designed with art I created

Terri Conrad Designs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in one of thee absolutely best showrooms retailers can buy from (psst. - get in touch with me and I'll tell you how to make your wholesale purchases for your store!)

Pinch me - please

I am honored,

I am proud, and

I am humbled.

I have made good choices, I have made bad choices, I have been thru fire and flood (literally) and copyright infringement, I have learned (and continue to) learn lessons about life, and about the licensing industry, and I have learned that life is what happens when you're busy making plans.

I learned to keep moving. I kept moving forward in spite of it all. Some days I took three steps forward, some days I stepped backwards, or only stepped in place, keeping time.

BUT, I kept moving.

The butterflies I experience now are the precious, sweet fluttery kind that remind me

I trusted my past and all its odds against my reaching this place in time

I trusted my intuition

I trusted my creative ability

I trusted the process and my personal the journey

I have a very trustworthy team (this is a team effort every step of the way)

and

I trust the future.

With enthusiasm, and tears not only in my eyes, but also my 13 year old daughter's eyes, we listened to Chris Medina's story and watched his AMAZING audition. He's got my vote already. I am deeply moved by Chris's story - he's moving forward too, in spite of it all.

Persistance

Patience

Determination

Hope

Faith

and a single seed to plant a dream

water the seed

give it love

give it sunshine

give it time

and it will sprout

from it, you can then plant more seeds to love, to water, to lavish sunshine upon.

Do you have a dream? Is there something you are allowing to keep you from nurtuing your dream? Is it the right dream - that is, when you are taking steps toward realizing your dream, do you get the good fluttery butterflies informing you that you are on the path designed especially for you?

Give yourself a couple minutes to write down just one dream and under it, three steps you can take toward realizing that dream. It all begins with just one step.

Sending sunshine your way - may miracles grow in your garden of dreams today.

xoxo

Terri

www.terriconraddesigns.com

Comments

[body lift]

This is wonderful article. I understand the way the author describes. This could be inspirational for me.

[Vickie]

Terri,

Such a beautiful post...you are an encouragement to me as I navigate and learn about art licensing. Thanks for sharing your journey! Congratulations on your successes and best wishes for many more!

[Terri Conrad]

thank you, my friend. And, who's tickled more when we see your art blazing over the TV air waives and walking thru Target ...my girls or me - mutual admiration, mucho mutual admiration.

[Aaron Christensen Art]

Terri,
This is a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing your journey in such a heartfelt way. As a trade show visitor, standing in the show room, in awe with all that is "Terri Conrad's" love, sweat and cheers brought to life, I couldn't wipe the goofy grin off my face. I glanced from right to left and back again hoping there would be someone to exclaim to "I know her, she's awesome, yeah...uh huh, I know her." Although, I think they thought I was nuts, they agreed with me! Awesome!
Terrific work my friend!