Love Is…Taking a chance on yourself!

It all began with a five word text ….

I usually ignore messages like this, because it’s giving Nigerian Prince chain letter. But this was a message from my friend, Joy, and she’s one of the most intentional souls I know. So, I stopped what I was doing, shot off the free application under the wire, and I went about my business.

To my surprise, I got an email the next day saying they wanted to interview me. And honestly, I wasn’t prepared or even excited about it, because (1) I didn’t have the money to go, (2) We were smack dab in the middle of the pandemic, and (3) Hollyweird had me spent.

Hold up, let me stop burying the lead.

“It” was the Rocaberti Writer’s Retreat. And it was taking place in a castle in France last May. And when Joy told me to apply last January, I did it on auto pilot and I had ZERO expectations I would even hear back, let alone get in.

Why? Because I’ve been creating in Hollyweird for 26 years, Fam. And during this time, I’ve applied for or have done just about every diversity program available. All in hopes to further my career.

But this time, I had no such delusions. The only expectations I hoped for? To meet some good people. To have an adventure. And to fall back in love with writing again.

I was also hoping for a scholarship, so I could scrimp together some coins and be able to go. Gratefully, I got a partial one. Then, Murphy’s Laws ass had to act up and my retreat was rescheduled to 2023, because of Covid.

Was I disappointed? Sure. But I was also relieved. Even with a partial scholarship, money was tight. And if I had gone last May, I wouldn’t have been able to even afford a croissant when I got there.

God, though, had other plans. And a little over a year after I applied for Rocaberti, I got my first TV staff writing job on All the Queen’s Men!

Now – secured in my first writers room until May – I rescheduled my visit to September, and I could afford to stay in a nice hotel in Paris before the retreat instead of hostel where they would harvest my organs. 😆

Then….you guessed it…Murphy’s Law showed its ass again and we went on writer’s strike.

Fam, conventional wisdom would say — Fool, your whole industry is shut down. You don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from. THIS AIN’T THE TIME TO GO OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO WRITE IN NO DAMN CASTLE.

But if I was conventional, Fam, I wouldn’t have applied for the retreat in the first place, right?!

So, I flew my happy ass to France.

And not only did I meet some WONDERFUL people (now my friends) who helped me workshop my passion screenplay that I am planning to direct. But I also had a AMAZING adventure in a breathtaking castle, got lost in enchanted forest, rolled up on a baby bat in my room. AND I fell back in love with writing (and myself) again!

I will never, ever forget this trip, Fam. This was a gift to myself. A chance to take a chance on me.

It also reminded me how dope I am.

And not only do I feel refreshed, I’m also renewed and excited about what’s coming next.

Whatever it is!