Testing The Waters

Have you ever imagined what you would do if you came face to face with a gunman? Well, I have and the scenario in my mind usually ended with me ducking for cover. The real-life version however was completely different. What should have been an uneventful stroll down the street turned into a chaotic, sad, and yet life affirming event. Last Friday was to be the beginning of a celebration-filled weekend for me and I couldn't wait to get the party started. Friday night was going to be a fun, small, surprise party that I had arranged for my sister-friend and Saturday my husband and I were going to celebrate our wedding anniversary.  The clock on my dashboard read 3:05, I wasn't finished shopping for these two very special people and at this moment time was not on my side. INTUITION. THANK GOD I LISTENED. I live in Studio City and absolutely love shopping at the stores in my neighborhood but not the traffic. I have a tried and true way of navigating around it, by parking...

If you haven't watched Oprah's Master Class on OWN you need to stop reading this post right now and go tune in... it is absolutely amazing! And if you don't know which channel OWN is on here's an easy     Channel Finder WHAT IS MASTER CLASS? Master Class is a show on the Own Network, in each episode a successful celebrity talks straight to camera and  openly  discusses the lessons they've learned from their life. Jane Fonda, Stevie Nicks, Tom Brokaw are just some that have  appeared  in this series. I recently watched Lenny Kravitz's Master Class and he  brought up many topics that I hold close to my own heart - one in particular had to do with race.  On the program he reveals a number of defining moments from his life but one in particular had a huge impact on him - this incident happened when he was in first grade.  On the first day of class his teacher had handed out one of those state mandated forms requiring the standard i...

Well, there's no mistaking it - Summer is here - its such a wonderful time of year. A time when we all seem to relax and enjoy our lives a little more. Maybe we hold more parties at our homes to spend quality time with friends or go to the beach to soak up the sunshine and fresh ocean air. If I had to describe this time of year in one word that word would be RESTFUL if I were pressed to put it into a sound it would be "Ahhhhhh." Imagine enjoying every Summer's day lounging by the pool sipping Margarita's or Pina Colada's yeah... like I said "Ahhhhh." Just writing this description I feel totally relaxed. Don't you? Alas, maybe we can't spend every day this Summer by the pool or at the beach - but we don't have to - meditation is another great way to unwind and relax. GUIDED MEDITATION A couple years ago I produced a meditation series and made it available free on-line. In this series I dedicate one video to a specific chakra (ener...

I was recently interviewed by talented Radio host LaFern Cusack for Radio Disney AM 1110. In this interview I give my tips on how to provide a home for a puppy... so if you are looking to add a furry baby to your family here are some things you need to consider. Here's the interview:  If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

I've always subscribed to the notion that we are each here for one reason... "to live OUR lives."  This goal sounds simple enough but sadly many people are not living their lives. Many are living the lives their families want them to live, the lives society deems "correct"-- afraid to step out of the box and listen to their soul's cry for expression. Everyone has a purpose and in order to live our life's purpose we each have to courageously step forward, put one foot in front of the other and allow our individual path to reveal itself to us.  FIND WHAT INTERESTS YOU There are many occupations in this great, big, beautiful world of ours -- as  Confucius  said "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." I can say from personal experience there is no profession  more challenging (and at the same time rewarding) than that of being an artist. Many people sit in judgement of others pursuing artistic endea...

I just finished work on a film and am currently in that in-between time that all artists go through.  Painters call this their "Blue Period." Usually, when I feel like this I can lure myself out of it by visiting museums, spending time with friends, going to the beach, reading autobiographies, watching inspirational stories on TV (which means I am glued to my OWN channel) or what I can find on-line. So, I began to scour the internet for inspiring stories when I vaguely remembered a story that I heard when I was younger, it was a story that seemed more fantastical than reality based.  I remembered hearing a about a man who walked across the World Trade Center on a tight rope - yes - that's right A TIGHT ROPE. A quick google search lead me to the infamous Philippe Petit a French, world renown high wire artist. On August 7, 1974 Petit completed an unauthorized high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Petit not only walked the 200 ft gap betwee...

"A Life, Taken" is inspired by my personal experience with sexual abuse. Before writing this story I never spoke about what happened to me as a child. Sitting down to write my story wasn't a conscious choice it was more like I was led to do so by a force greater than myself. I had no idea the effect it would have on me and my life. I can still remember the day I finished the first draft (over year ago), somehow I felt lighter, like a w eight had b e en lift ed. I know now that by writing my story and getting it out I had dropped the heavy weight of shame I had been clinging to all these years. My silence insured that I held tightly to this shame as if it were some kind of life preserver instead of what it really was - a 10 ton weight. I chose to stay quiet and not speak about what happened to me. I thought this would make it "go away".  Boy was I wrong.   This is like putting a bag of garbage in a closet in the ho...

by DawnMarie Ferrara (2/12/10) I hear banging on the locked door - Locked door - bang. I sit in a bath of confusion. Locked door - bang. You want to come in? Locked door - bang. I’m bathing in confusion. Locked door - bang. Staring at the door as the Locked door goes bang. Feeling my stomach twist as the Locked door goes bang. My heart races each time the Locked door goes bang. Feel helpless as the Locked door goes bang. Ears deafening each time the Locked door goes bang. Can’t take anymore. Locked door goes Bang! Bang! Bang! I open the locked door and Find my strength.