Blonde Ambition

So we all know that I am obsessed with pop culture, and turning 21 recently has got me thinking about my life and my journey thus far. I was watching a clip of Jessica Simpson performing a song (I know some of you are judging me), and it's so strange but I find that very often wisdom comes in the strangest places. Anyway, so she is interacting with the audience before a song and then thanked them all for their support. She mentions the fact that she used to think that it was all about competing with everyone else, or trying to be #1, or be someone else for that matter and that success only really exploded in her life when she embraced who she was and did what she wanted to do. She was obviously referring to trying to be America's Number 1 pop princess, and as we all know she only became a huge superstar when she let that go and did a reality show, where she showcased who she was.

It really got me thinking about my own life, and the parallels in that. I have been so lucky to have friends and people who support my work encourage me to embrace who I am. I am also encouraged to go after what I want to do, and not feel obliged to follow anyone's footsteps. I used to think and feel that I had to be number one, or compare myself to others to find success. While celebrating such successes is always great, it can't define who we are - we need to guide our own happiness. Letting go of the pressure, and just being myself and doing the things that seem natural to me has proven so much more rewarding and successful in my own life. So thanks Jess, for articulating what I have been thinking, but struggled to find the words to say - and for inspiring this late-night ramble.

Encounters: I went to see the documentary YouChuse at the 10th annual Encounters South African International Documentary Festival tonight. It was great fun, I actually don't see as many doccies as I should. Check them out. The Cape Town leg of the festival runs at Nu Metro in the V&A Waterfront until 13 July 2008. Visit www.encounters.co.za for more information.