This week I head to the west coast for my biggest job to date. After all of the hard work, dedication, and career-building over the past four years I definitely have had to take a step back and figure out how I got to this point. Life has not always been rainbows and sunshine, and I still have much more to achieve, but I took a really scary leap of faith a few years back, and have had the confidence and drive to keep moving onward and upward to stand on my own two feet. Some days I may feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, but as I look back at my journey from the day I resigned from my teaching job, and moved across the country for a very handsome boy, I realize that I may have two other men to thank for my tennacious spirit and ability to keep on keepin’ on. My brothers are two very annoying, handsome and wonderful men. They have taught me so much over the years, and even though I may not want to admit it they have had an important hand of turning me into the woman I am today.
They cannot take all of the credit…as the old saying goes ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and I have parents, family members, dance teachers, coaches, friends and agents to thank, but I think some of the most important lessons that I have learned throughout the years have come from the two siblings who tortured me every day of my life. What are they? Well here goes…
Do Not Overthink
This helped me tremendously in my career today. Once I leave a casting I simply try to forget what happened almost immediately. Sometimes I feel like I had the best audition ever and I don’t even get a callback. Other times I think it was the worst and I end up booking the job. Case in point, you can’t win them all. If you have a challenge in front of you try be as prepared as possible. Sometimes circumstances are out of your control. That guy you went out with last week? He didn’t call you afterwards. Unfortunately, as the saying goes ‘he’s just not that into you’. You are still beautiful, you are still amazing, do not think otherwise. When the right man comes along everything will fall into place. In the mean time go out with your awesome girlfriends! Don’t take those chicks for granted…like ever.
You Can Take a Joke
Wether you are the butt of a joke or cracking them, there is nothing better than a good laugh. Here is a great example: I recently got a message from my agent. It went a little something like this “Uh Hi Taylor I have a casting for you tomorrow afternoon, it is for a female bodybuilder. I think you are PRETTY BIG, well bigger than me anyway. Let me know if you can make it. ” I have played it for almost all of my girlfriends who think this life is so easy and we laughed until we cried. This job is wonderful, but you MUST be able to laugh at yourself….you and I are not perfect so if you fall on the dance floor (I did in front of the whole Towson football team freshman year) , wear a ridiculous outfit (like I did the night I got engaged) or walk around with a cliff hanger all day. Shake it off and keep it moving.
Be a Cheerleader
Brothers taught me how to be supportive and to compromise. Some of my favorite memories were on the sideline of their lacrosse games, and a lot of the time it cut into quality time with friends, dance classes or something else I wanted to do; however, I was there for their successes and triumphs, but I also stuck by their side through losses and injuries. Life isn’t always a series of victories, and many times you need to learn to compromise, but sticking out the hard times with those you love helps you to come out a stronger more resilient person.
Forge Your Own Path
It’s easy to get caught in the shadow of success of other siblings. I was determined to shed the “Walkers Sister” nickname and find something of my own. So I danced…danced to my hearts content. My time on stage was my time to shine, and finding an outlet that was all my own was the healthiest and best thing for me as a young girl. It was a type of expression that was my form of therapy. My way to get away from it all.
Take a Beating and Get Back Up
This one is both literal and metaphorical. I must have gotten beaten up almost every day of my life, and one day I decided to fight back. You know what…I won. I may have had three scratches on my stomach, but I owned my brother and ran as fast as I could away from the house. From then on he knew I was all business and was not to be messed with again. So when life hands you those lemons, make some damn lemonade, lemon meringue pie and lemon chicken!
You Can Handle Farts, Burps and Other Bodily Functions
Maybe not at the dinner table and maybe not for hours at a time, but you can handle them and even think its funny when you get dutch-ovened on occasion.
Enjoy Alone Time
Growing up I didn’t always want to do what my brothers were doing so I would do something I enjoyed by myself in my room. To this day I really love spending time alone with Tay Tay. When Cory travels I cook a meal for one, binge watch anything on E! or Bravo and basically do whatever I feel like doing. Sometimes I worry that I spend too much time alone, but then I realize my alone time is limited as one day I hope to become a mommy, and I better enjoy it now.
Believe You Can Do Anything They Can Do
Like jump off of high walls and catch yourself with your face. Yup, that happened and seven stitches later I have the battle wounds to prove it, and now that I am thirty a couple of tiny hairs like to sprout out of it…I call them John and Austin. If you believe you can do anything they can do..it may not be true, but at least you try and try again! So go for whatever it is you want.
This week as I travel yet again, I am going to continue to be thankful for these lessons I have learned along the way. Maybe one day I will go back to teaching and leave this crazy career behind, but if we have a daughter one day and we are lucky enough to give her a brother or two I hope she learns the same lessons mine have bestowed upon me.
Last but not least because I am still a girl, and I wanted to showcase my favorite look for travel as this past week alone I was on four flights. This top from Nesh NYC is cozy and perfect for freezing cold airplanes. I love comfy jeans, quick on and off shoes and a crossover bag that makes it easy to grab my boarding pass, ID and anything else I may need to get through security. So next time you travel give this cozy and comfy look a try. This top again is from Nesh NYC, Dana Joe’s Jeans, Rachel Zoe Shoes (Similar), Olivia and Joy Bag and Stella Valle Necklace.
Photos by: Judy Walker of Judy Walker Photography
