The Daniel Fast

When an old coworker emailed me with her latest news and updates, she mentioned that she had just completed a process she referred to as The Daniel Fast.  I had never heard of such a thing, but she spoke so highly of the end result that I decided to research it.

The Daniel Fast is a 21 day spiritual and physical fast, in which one basically assumes a vegan diet with some modifications.  Nothing to drink but water.  That meant no coffee for me for 3 weeks!  Also no meat, no bread, and no sugar.  My roommate and I both decided we needed some time set aside in our lives to reflect, pray, be still and make some changes in our hearts on a few matters.  So we embarked on this journey together!  I also made a choice to deactivate facebook during this time, as well.

This is day 15 for me, and what a life changing experience it has been.  In the beginning, we had perceived it as being a very feasible thing to do.  Three weeks is such a short time in hindsight!  But unfortunately it has not been as easy as that.  I had no idea how much of a dependency I had on certain things.  How much I relied on food, drink or social media for my happiness, and how I sought fulfillment in so many of these things.  The benefits were threefold: physical, mental and spiritual.

So far I have lost six pounds.  Bare in mind, we did not do this for the weight loss.  That has just been a perk (especially since I need to fit into a bridesmaids dress in a few weeks). My energy levels have been extremely high and my sleep habits are better than ever.  It is easier to work out, and all I want to do is organize everything in sight!

I am, by nature, an anxious person.  I have a tremor in my hands that I have had as long as I can remember.  It flares up when I am nervous.  But throughout this period, it has disappeared.  I haven't gotten as uptight about things as I normally do.  My mind has never been clearer, and I recognize things about myself and my world that I never noticed before.

Spiritually, this has been quite a journey.  I must admit that I have not prayed or read as much as I intended to when we started.  Although I got rid of one distraction (FB), I replaced it with A LOT of television programs.  The true purpose of this time has been lost many a night, when I get sucked in to the Bachelor or American Idol.  However, I hope to change that for this final week.

As I mentioned before, I picked an issue in my life I wanted to pray about and wished to receive an answer to after this period was over.  Interestingly enough, on the first day of the fast, I encountered satan at his finest.  I was presented with an opportunity that I consider to be exactly the opposite of what I was trying to achieve...a stumbling block to my success.  He definitely knew which heart strings to pull at, and he was playing tug of war with the Lord for sure.

Another blessing from this time has been my realization that I have not reflected Christ in certain ways to the people around me.  It is natural to want to be accepted by those in your environment, and New York is definitely a different animal when it comes to what is considered socially acceptable.  I am called to be like Christ, and sometimes Christ was different.  A lot of times He was.  Being different for three weeks has been a challenge, but has reminded me that this is who I am.  It is who I am supposed to be.  And what a great wake up call it has been.

I recommend the Daniel Fast to anyone who wants any of the three benefits I mentioned before, but especially if you want all of them.  There are cookbooks, devotionals, and a blog available to participants.  I only share my experience with it because I am thankful that someone shared theirs with me.

6 Months!!!

Next week will mark my six month anniversary in New York!  I still can't believe that I live here.  When you get into a routine, it is very easy to forget such a privilege.  My roommate suggested that I take time to be a tourist, which puts my new reality into perspective.  So this past week I decided to treat myself to a little reminder.

Thursday night we went to see American Idiot, which is a Broadway play featuring music from Green Day, and also (until tonight), their lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong.  It was like being at a concert, and we sat four rows from the front!!!  Amazing time.  I'm excited to see the Allman Brothers this month at the legendary Beacon Theatre and Amos Lee in April.

Saturday was just one of those days when you feel like exploring solo.  I went to see my traditional Saturday morning movie, The Kings Speech.  Anything before noon is considered a matinee, and is only $6.  AMC theater in Kips Bay is now my new favorite place to be at 11 a.m. on Saturday.  After the movie, I wandered over to 5th avenue to do some incredibly unnecessary shopping.  But I am a sucker for a deal, and came away with a few items for under $50!

I haven't seen the Flatiron building since I moved here, so that was my next stop.  It's located on 23rd and Madison, right next to Madison Square Park, the original Shake Shack and the cutest little dog park you've ever seen.  I love to watch dogs.  They are so funny and carefree, and the more I am around them, the more I want one.  As much as I would love to wait until I have a yard for them to play in, they make the most excellent company in this city.  I think people here are more affected by watching dogs than children.  They basically are their children, complete with entire wardrobes and carriages to be toted around in.

As I headed back to 3rd avenue to take the bus up, I passed through Gramercy Park.  I think I have officially found my favorite place in New York.  The homes were gorgeous, the park was well tended and there were a plethora of cafes and shops that reminded me of Europe.  It's also where the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt is located.  All in all, a fabulous day!

I am really excited to see what the next six months will bring, especially since it will be warm weather again.  I can't wait to go to the beach, hear free concerts in the park and not have to wear five layers of clothing everywhere I go!

I am becoming my mother...

Because I look forward to spending Friday night in the peace and quiet of my home, instead of out and about in this crazy city.  Last weekend was a bit hectic, so I am definitely in recovery.  I was able to work three shows at Fashion Week, and enjoyed one of them immensely!  I was asked not to disclose which shows I worked, but the clothes were unbelievable!  I also worked the VIP section for one show and saw Kim Kardashian, Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), some guy from Ugly Betty, one of the Real Housewives of NY (the one with the nasty husband), and a random rapper.  Definitely a very cool experience.

I have two auditions coming up in the next few days for plays in the city.  One would be a traveling production, and the other is local.  Excited and nervous for both.  It's been a LONG time since I've done any real acting, and I'm a bit rusty.  Very thankful for the opportunity to try, though.

Today we had 65 degree weather!!!!!  So, of course I wore open toed shoes.  If my legs would've been tan, I would've worn a sundress.  Are you kidding me?!  We won't have an opportunity like this again until May.  I've been told it's not uncommon to have snow in April, so I want to maximize open toe time as much as possible.  But when I walked into work, people just laughed at me and said that I was very "southern."  What the heck does that even mean?  Don't these people expose their feet???  Another coworker commented on the excessive length of my toes.  Regardless, I proudly sported those beauties all around that office.  Not ashamed.

February Fun

Only in Manhattan can you go to the grocery store and pay $12 for 1 lb of Velveeta, and proceed to the flower market across the street and pay the exact same amount for two dozen gorgeous roses.  I just don't get it.  I find myself frequently surprised by the cost of things, whether it be pricey or cheap.  I wonder what I could get for Shanes barbque up here.  Or better yet, open a Waffle House.  In the last two days, I have heard three different people say that the restaurant they miss the most from home is good ole WH.  I would give my left arm for an Allstar right about now.

I am excited for February in the city!  I've been told it is the most challenging month to live here, because it feels as if winter is never going to end.  So in an effort to prevent hibernation and zero social contact, I have planned something for every weekend in the month.

This weekend I volunteered at KEEN through New York Cares.  The purpose of the program is to work with special needs children through various activities to enhance social and functional skill sets.  I was partnered up with the cutest eight year old girl who wiped the floor with me in puppet design.  I beat her down in bowling though, so no harm done.  I enjoyed the entire afternoon, and met a lot of really great people (also my new place for meeting men-I mean, if you are going to spend your entire Saturday afternoon playing with children voluntarily, I think you may be worth me putting on make up and not wearing my fat pants).

Next weekend is FASHION WEEK!  Thanks to my friend Rich, I am working two different shifts on Friday and Saturday, and will have the chance to be around some of the most beautiful people and clothes in the world.  I do plan to come prepared with bags of candy and large quantities of baked goods,  because models are people too.  They need to eat.  And I need them to gain weight.

The following weekend I have my first legitimate audition for an actual play that has toured previously, and been made into a DVD.  I have already had an audio audition, and got a call back, so the accent must not be an issue!  I also am planning to submit for a role in Snow White, which will be an off Broadway production in the spring.

I'm hoping the end of February will bring a road trip to Vermont.  I have always wanted to see the state in the winter, and am working on getting a group together.  I do miss my road trips.  I get a little stir crazy if I have to stay in the same place for weeks on end (no matter where it is).  I think I will always have the nomadic gene, because the thought of settling down somewhere for the rest of my life really gives me a panic attack.  No clue why.  I guess I am a peacock, and you've got to let me fly!

Sunday Sappiness

When you’re 28 and single, you being to think that everyone else around you has it made.  They’re buying houses, getting MBA’s, and marriage is old news….they’re already starting a family by this point.  You begin to look at your life and wonder what you have to show for it.  But a wise woman once told me that you can't compare yourself to other people.  Your story is your own.  The truth is, the grass can be greener quite often.  Unless of course, you realize how many blessings you truly do have in your current situation.   I like to think of myself as one of the luckiest people I know.  I always have a story to tell.  Whether it’s stumbling upon an undercover NYPD cop who gives you seven free Louis Vitton knock off bags from the store owner he just busted, or meeting that celebrity you’ve been fixated on forever while en route to the port-a-john, I would say that my life has been full of lucky moments.  Mostly while traveling.  You just never know what possibilities are there unless you seize the opportunity to search them out.  But the three things that make me one of the luckiest ladies in the world are my friends who aren't afraid to tell me the truth about things I need to change, a family who loves me for better or for worse, and a Lord that overwhelms my heart with a joy that no human could ever match.  It just doesn't get any better than that.

Brooklyn Bingo

Today was my first experience as a volunteer with New York Cares, which is an organization responsible for multiple community outreach programs and services.  I chose to participate in a game day at the Brooklyn United Methodist Church nursing home.  Ever since I left Nashville, I have really missed visitation with the senior citizens at the Manor.  This was just what I was looking for, and it was everything I'd hoped it would be!

Our options were bingo and dominoes, and I was shuffled over to the bingo table to assist three people with seeing their cards.  I sat next to a woman named Naomi Campbell (I kid you not), and found out that she was from Harlem, GEORGIA.  She had moved to New York with her husband in 1952, and had stayed against her better judgment (her words).  Apparently her husband left her for another woman after 35 years of marriage.  And not just any woman...her niece!  Despite that incredibly heavy baggage, she was such a pleasant and entertaining lady.

Naomi started singing "You are so beautiful to me" halfway through the game, and continued until the end.  She had a beautiful voice, and was apparently a back up singer for Luther Vandross.  She also sang with the Temptations, and knew both Ray Charles and Elvis (who made her laugh all the time with his dancing).  I'm not exactly sure if everything she was telling me was factual, but she seemed sharp to me, and I thought it was a fabulous story.

Bulls, Bears and Boys

My much anticipated New York Stock Exchange tour was this morning.   I now know where all of the men in New York go during the day.  I have never in my life been in the presence of so much testosterone at one time.  And they all have a real issue with gawking.  Thankfully, my tour guide, who was an employee of Euronext (a Euro-American for profit corporation that operates the NYSE) was dressed casually and blamed all of the staring on his inappropriate garb. He said that most everyone there was "old school" and thought that anyone on the floor should be in a suit and tie (aside from the traders, of course).  


Apparently a change in dress code isn't the only development there in the last few years.  After a fairly recent change in leadership (the new COO is Lawrence Leibowitz, the brother of Jon Stewart of the Daily Show), adjustments were made to culture, technology and standards.  They even strategically placed a Starbucks on the floor so that no one had to leave the building to be juiced up.  Also, more recently, the cast of the Jersey Shore was selected to ring the bell at the 9:30 ceremony.  This caused quite an uproar, because of the lack of dignity in the selection.  I actually got to hear the bell, which was rung by a company called Aeroflex.  It is customary to start clapping 15 seconds before the bell and about 10 after.  I got really tired of it, and stopped after five.  


I wasn't allowed to take any photos, and there is certainly not a gift shop, but overall it was an incredibly cool experience that I will never forget!!!