Welcome, Welcome, Welcome (Hogwarts?)

Although I do love Harry Potter, this post is not at all about that Wizarding World of his. (Extra brownie points if you can name the reference the title makes though ;) I just wanted to welcome you to my blog! I'm very excited and nervous to share with you, my friends and family, about what I'm up to, what I'm thinking, and possibly what I've learned, which I understand is very little having only been on this earth twenty years and nine months.

Why the sudden need for a blog, you ask?

Let me explain...

I've been stuck in my home a lot recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that this fell during Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha was no coincidence. I have had a lot of time to think about my craft, my faith, my goals... and my relationship with social media. I have been forced to recognize that I hate it. I hate what social media does to me. Although there are moments of connection and beauty that I encounter, they are few and far between. I find myself disgusted at the rise of TikTok and the monstrous amount of fake accounts on Instagram. I know that social media is inevitable and it MUST be used if I am to be a self employed performer, but the way I have been looking at it, it is doing more damage to my mental health and love for my art than any good it would do for my brand.

Each time I think to myself, "I want to post this/something on social media! It gives me such joy" I immediately think, "But that's kinda controversial" or "A casting agent wouldn't care to see that". So I don't do anything. I've often thought about just giving up social media altogether, but then I wouldn't see what my friends are up to. I'm sure any performer reading this will probably relate to these feelings.

I'll just say it: I am sick and tired of my image controlling my happiness, because that's what it is doing. This blog will hopefully be a stepping stone to a better relationship with Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. My goal is to post anything, anything and everything that I want on this blog. Even as I write this I just thought, "What if a casting agent or director finds it?!?" You know what? I choose not to care. If my real self is something they will not hire me over, I don't want to be working with them anyway. HA! Take THAT!

So get ready to hear my uncensored, honest, offensive, vulnerable, funny thoughts, Because THAT'S what will give me joy. And THAT'S what I'd want to see from anyone else.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Elise Brianne Todd

P.S. I absolutely LOVE quotes so I might leave you with a relevant one every now and again. Here's a favorite from Harry Potter:

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times

if one only remembers to turn on the light."

-Albus Dumbledore