5, 4, 3, open sesame! Happy new year!
Every good ending needs a countdown, right? Here is a rundown of the top 5 things from this first year in NYC:
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda: now, this is not some fangirl thing... in fact I won't even elaborate on it at all. Lin knows why he's on this list, and that's all that really matters. All I'm going to say is that I would not be alive if it weren't for him. Hey neighbor👋
2. Freestyle Love Supreme (preme preme preme preme): yes, I saw FLS on Broadway once or twice (26 as of the writing of this), but it's so much more than that. People have asked me, "Why do you go so often?" and I never have a full answer. Usually I respond with "because I want to" or "it's different every time", but in reality, it's because this show and crew bring me so much joy. The people performing in FLS, every single one of them, are so generous, so kind, and so genuinely happy to be doing what they're doing for the people in the audience. When someone comes out to stagedoor and is just as happy to see you as you are to see them, it makes an impact.
And that doesn't even come close to what the FLS academy meant to me (read more about that here). The community of people within the academy are so gracious, wonderful, and welcoming. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.
3. Twitterico: I've never really talked about the people within Twitterico before and what they mean to me. I have found real, true, genuine friends in that community... and some that are more like family. Whether I've had the wonderful pleasure to meet them in person, or if we never meet at all, the honest and real people that I've met are some of my favorite humans on earth. Many have helped me through crises, listened to me cry, or simply been an ear for me to rant to... and I always repay the favor.
4. Broadway: I've always been a theatre fan. I saw my first show when I was 7, acted throughout high school and college, and have been to at least 1 show a year since my early teens. But moving here and having the opportunity to see so much has been overwhelming... in the best way. I was able to see shows that I would never have had the chance to if it weren't for this move. Even though my love for theatre never went away, I feel like it's been rekindle in the most wonderful way. I get to experience the big hits to the tiny shows no one ever sees. I get to feel the joy when your favorite does well and the pain when something you love closes. I even went to my first Bway Flea this year... which was an experience in and of itself.
5. Lastly (and this is more of a musing than an actual thing), the chance to start over. When I left my ex, I had no idea what my future was going to hold. I was terrified. When I got the idea to move, people told me I was crazy. I knew it was the right thing to do but still... I was terrified. Moving to a city like this with no idea if you'll succeed or not? What was I thinking?! But it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Starting over, making friends, finding my place in the world... it's been the best, scariest, most insane year of my life.
I just want to thank everyone that has helped me this year... you know who you are. I can't wait to see what comes next.
- Danielle
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda: now, this is not some fangirl thing... in fact I won't even elaborate on it at all. Lin knows why he's on this list, and that's all that really matters. All I'm going to say is that I would not be alive if it weren't for him. Hey neighbor👋
And that doesn't even come close to what the FLS academy meant to me (read more about that here). The community of people within the academy are so gracious, wonderful, and welcoming. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.
3. Twitterico: I've never really talked about the people within Twitterico before and what they mean to me. I have found real, true, genuine friends in that community... and some that are more like family. Whether I've had the wonderful pleasure to meet them in person, or if we never meet at all, the honest and real people that I've met are some of my favorite humans on earth. Many have helped me through crises, listened to me cry, or simply been an ear for me to rant to... and I always repay the favor.
4. Broadway: I've always been a theatre fan. I saw my first show when I was 7, acted throughout high school and college, and have been to at least 1 show a year since my early teens. But moving here and having the opportunity to see so much has been overwhelming... in the best way. I was able to see shows that I would never have had the chance to if it weren't for this move. Even though my love for theatre never went away, I feel like it's been rekindle in the most wonderful way. I get to experience the big hits to the tiny shows no one ever sees. I get to feel the joy when your favorite does well and the pain when something you love closes. I even went to my first Bway Flea this year... which was an experience in and of itself.
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| Just part of my Bway Flea haul |
5. Lastly (and this is more of a musing than an actual thing), the chance to start over. When I left my ex, I had no idea what my future was going to hold. I was terrified. When I got the idea to move, people told me I was crazy. I knew it was the right thing to do but still... I was terrified. Moving to a city like this with no idea if you'll succeed or not? What was I thinking?! But it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Starting over, making friends, finding my place in the world... it's been the best, scariest, most insane year of my life.
I just want to thank everyone that has helped me this year... you know who you are. I can't wait to see what comes next.
- Danielle
