My Quest for Courage...

In the 1979 production of Manhattan, Isaac Davis, played by Woody Allen said:

“Talent is luck. The important thing in life is courage.” 

Those few words recently changed my perspective on Life, in general.

First of all, why courage? Why not confidence, or Education, or even Health?

And if you think about it, what is courage anyway? How do you define it? Is it taking risks? Or is it facing your fears? And do I really need to jump out of an airplane to prove I’m brave? No thank you, I like the view better from the surface.

But I can’t seem to get rid of the echoes in my head! Am I crazy? Or have I lost my mind? Or is it the absence of courage in my life that is causing all this stress?

I demand an answer, and I won’t leave until I earn it.

Will I be a working actor? Hopefully.

Will I be better at writing? Perhaps.

Will I pursue production instead? It’s possible.

It’s certainly hard to decide when you truly love it ALL. And even though I can’t determine my life in the future, I can direct it. And if ‘courage’ is the most important thing in life, I want to unlock its true meaning.

Is it quitting a secure job I’ve had for 8 years? Or is it leaving a happy home behind to ‘follow my dreams?’

It takes guts to do that. But I’m not the first one here, nor am I the last.

I believe that the biggest atrocity of all is to indoctrinate our children into a system that does not value their creative expression, nor encourage their unique abilities.

And as heartbreaking as it was to leave my mother, our eyes made their peace in difficulties, with anguished lips and salted cheeks, understanding that success is a staircase, not a doorway.

So I faced minor obstacles, and I accepted major criticism, but when I was ready for the next chapter, I seized the moment.

Moreover, I was driven to move to Los Angeles, California.  

Is that courage?

I cried when I arrived. I got scared. Overwhelmed.

It seemed like I traded a perfectly furnished bedroom with a king-sized bed, to an inflatable mattress. Minus the ‘inflate’. It’s more like a plastic carpet. Certainly, I can’t deny how blessed I am to still have a roof above my head.

Nonetheless, this city is far beyond magical. Happiness is around the corner; success is down the street. So I continue to push past the fear of not succeeding in life, because doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.

I’m not your typical 23-year old girl. I’m the girl the guys call ‘dude.’ It hurts, I know. But I can’t help choosing a basketball court over a mall. I like to have fun, and a little competition never hurt anyone. Besides, whenever I do feel spontaneous and adventurous, my bank account reminds me to calm the hell down.

Life is too short to be serious all the time; therefore, I live mine professionally. I might as well mention that I am a workaholic. I got my first job right before my 15^th birthday, and shortly after; I had several part-time jobs. I finally put it all aside, and I realized that I am ready to start ‘working,’ and I thrive to do so with desire, and some humor. 

And just because opportunity hasn’t knocked at my door yet, it didn’t stop me from building a door. I played around with my camera and I made an amateur portfolio I called ‘TheNancyZone,’ where I’ve been teaching myself the crafts of productions. With social media taking over, I upload my files on Youtube and Instagram:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNancyZone

https://www.instagram.com/thenancyzone/

(Please feel free to view them).

           

Obviously, I wouldn’t be writing about it if I weren’t passionate about this industry. I say ‘industry’ because it takes crews of equal importance to create the art to entertain, and I would be honored to belong in any of its fields.

I’ve been staring at this blank page for over a year now: not because I can’t find the right words to say; It’s the fact that actions speak louder than words. I thought I made a huge mistake a few years ago when I agreed to major in Business and psychology. Sometime, I feel like I gave in because I lacked the courage to follow my dreams, but I will use my knowledge to make a difference in the world.

And since I am responsible for my choices, it is never too late to start over.

I don’t stress the ‘could haves.’ If it should have, it would have. Now that I am older, I see things differently, and it makes me appreciate the setbacks I’ve faced. I learned that I can rise above them and that’s how we’re meant to live our lives. When life knocks us down, it’s never too late to get back up. I might not have all the degrees to prove it, but I have a passion for this art.

And courage, is following my dreams, but also realizing that my dreams won’t work, unless I do! It’s allowing my dreams to be bigger than my fears, my actions louder than my words, and my faith stronger than my feelings. Risks make life worth living.

            And fortunately, I have great work ethics! 

Thank you for reading,

  

Nancy Habib

Fearless Activists: Katharine Hepburn and Harvey Milk

Katharine Hepburn, A woman before her time.

Katharine Hepburn was an icon on screen and an inspiration in real life. Known for her fierce independence and quick wit, stage and screen actress Kate Hepburn was an unconventional movie star who did not keep her views quiet. She was very independent in her thoughts and actions and she holds a special place in American film and popular culture.

            A true artist and an unlikely Hollywood star, Kate Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 12, 1907. She was the second of six children. Her father was a surgeon and her mother was an early feminist: They educated their children about important political and social subjects and they encouraged her to speak out. The Hepburn’s were leaders in radical causes that were not popular in conservative Hartford. Neighbors threw bricks through their windows and the children were frequently forced to defend themselves in fights.

Kate Hepburn acted on and off Broadway before landing a role in the 1932 film A Bill of Divorcement, opposite John Barrymore. She is a theatric veteran and appeared in over 50 motion pictures. The characters Hepburn played were usually wealthy and intelligent, often strong and independent. She liked to play the roles of strong women, yet these tough characters tended to be humbled in some form and revealed to have a hidden vulnerability.

In a career lasting several decades, Katharine was an iconic figure of twentieth century film. Her lifestyle was unconventional for the time and through her acting she helped redefine traditional views of women’s role in society. She was acted in the suffrage movement, leading the Connecticut fight to win voting rights for women. Kathy frequently accompanied her mother passing out brochures and marching in parades. She embodied feminine beauty but also an inner strength and reserve. She was an important cultural icon and a forerunner for women of the 20^th century who lived with greater independence and freedom of action.

Hepburn is one of America's most celebrated actresses, and I had never thought of her as a political person. Turns out, Katherine Hepburn was an extreme liberal, pro abortion and openly atheistic: A mind so clear, opinionated, unafraid, Kathy lived life somewhat reclusively but she lived it the way she wanted. She was truly an American original and one of the most admired women of her time. Hepburn was an icon and I think it’s time that people began to appreciate her political impact.

Hepburn wanted to face the movie industry in her own way, and she was known for being fiercely private and would not talk to fans for much of her career. She often displayed a standoff attitude to the media.  While she was demanding, she retained a sense of humility and humanity: She distanced herself from the celebrity lifestyle; she wore casual clothes that went strongly against convention in era of glamour. She was dismissive toward other female actresses and reluctant to sign autographs or give interviews. She even turned down an offer to run for the US Senate. However, Katharine’s relentless energy and enthusiasm for life with a headstrong independence became key to her celebrity status. She was famously blunt and outspoken and critics either loved or hated her.

In Hollywood today, leading men are permitted to age on screen while their female colleagues are required to keep at least one toe dipped in the fountain of youth, Katharine Hepburn defied sexist ageism. Liberalism is a political philosophy, a worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality for all. Hepburn’s dream for a better tomorrow and her hope for equality, was soon shared by a man who symbolized the freedom to live with authenticity.

At a time when homosexuality was considered a mental disorder, a liberal activist found his voice as a leader. Harvey Milk became the city’s first openly gay officer to be elected to office in the United States. It was a time when being gay was illegal and there was widespread harassment and victimization of homosexuals. Milk influenced our social perceptions and human sensibilities. The story of Harvey Milk represents his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights. His desire for identifying genuine cultural differences and similarities across difference lines, Milk pointed his supporters in the direction of the desperate young person struggling in isolation with his sexuality.

A visionary civil and human rights leader, Harvey was born on May 22, 1930, in Woodmere, New York. Harvey and his one sibling came from a small middle-class Jewish family. He knew he was gay by the time he attended high school, where he was a popular student with wide-ranging interests. His courage, passion, and sense of justice rocked a country and stirred the very core of a put down and pushed out community, bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom. Harvey showed us all what one person, standing up loudly and clearly, against a fierce societal fear and prejudice can accomplish. He created a rich and vivid message of hope and an enduring dream, teaching us how to create our own and leaving them for us to realize.

In the 1970s, people regarded gays and lesbians as very different and dangerous people, and the public and media treated them as a scourge. He suffered intolerance and unfairness, and the fate of a figure like him is destined to be fallen. But Milk was a skilled politician and a kind man: A Simple publicity stunt came to define Milk’s career as a official, not only because he knew how to garner media attention for his cause, but also because it represented his desire to solve everyday problems.

Harvey’s election in 1977 took San Francisco politics by a storm when the groundbreaking leader was elected to the Board of Supervisors. His ability to mobilize gays and straights alike resulted in the defeat of a statewide proposition to severely limit gays’ employment rights. The media labeled Harvey Milk as someone who belongs to a minority group as ‘First gay on board,’ The world’s first openly gay elected officials, and its most visible one, contributed to the freedom to millions of LGBT women and men around the world.

Unfortunately, Harvey served less than a year in public office before his brutal assassination. However, his life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His legacy of fighting for gay rights has inspired a new generation of civic activists across the United States, fighting for sexual equality and the expansion of civil liberties for gays and lesbians.

Activism and change come in a variety of venues. Katharine Hepburn and Harvey Milk are among a few fearless people who tried to create social change in areas of sexual discrimination. Anyone can make a difference in this world, whether it’s locally or nationally, it can happen in small everyday actions as well as creative large-scale venues. The media plays a critical role, but the most important steps we can take are simple and can make a big difference.

                                   ‘Hope will never be silent.’ – Harvey Milk