I skipped…

Oh, how whimsy and wonderful the world can be as it mirrors the world around me

I skipped down my apt hallway to my door today, and put in my key. Opened the door, amazed by my reflection in the mirror. I smiled & checked myself out. So much whimsy.

Continued down my inner apartment corridor, dropped my keys, and entered my room. Shoeless of course.

When I opened my door my closet had thrown up everywhere while out at class. Not in shock, I tidied up, folded clothes, hung things up moved shoes.

While cleaning, I was having an outer dialogue with myself. Just being silly and reflecting on the day and the wonders I had experienced. But in a Chita Rivera voice…

FAMILIARITY:

Yesterday, I saw an Instagram Reel of a doll show (if I find it i’ll insert it). Which includes Monster High dolls comedically voiced.

One of the dolls has an odd crush on another doll named Deuce. So every time they speak to Deuce, they say “Deuceeeee,” in a Chita Rivera voice.

You may be wondering: “Why didn’t you scroll?” My nostalgic familiarity to these videos is what kept me glued to my screen. As a kid, my sister introduced a specific piece of internet lore to me. Most Popular Girls In High School (MPGIHS). If you know…you know.

CREDIT:MOST POPULAR GIRLS IN HIGHSCHOOL

We would mock their voices as we bonded over what we were witnessing. Acting out the characters and being silly. While understanding to not bring it into our personal lives to avoid reprimanding from our mom. School was a different story.

As a more conscious human, my sister chose to act socially amongst her friends. Something only people close to her would see.

I chose to act literally and joined every play I could. As an adult, it’s referenced socially because it’s nostalgic to me other friends.

So, as I’m having this conversation with myself about my day, I decided to start acting. I do my scene: “A tickling gone wrong.” As I finish, I bow as if I’ve broken the 4th wall and continue cleaning my room in silence.

It was so funny to me (not only because the story itself was hilarious) my commitment to make myself laugh while stimulating my skills surprised me.

ACTING:

I’m taking Theater 200, an acting course at my university taught by Diletta Gilispe. We’re learning how to channel different characters, score scripts (manipulate script), storytelling, etc. All the things I loved to do as a kid but couldn’t continue.

STEM school is my background education: elementary, middle, and high school. Yup, hell. In my later years of middle into high school, theater/arts wasn’t provided, nor a highlighted study.

Art was something that I didn’t realize was so important to me during those times. I existed through my teen years not connected to my source of core source of being. It was rough.

During COVID, I had the space to understand my truest self or who I wanted to be. Young, 17, going off to college soon (hopefully), and yearning for something new. I cut off my connection to social media, went on a self-discovery through literature, and meditated every day.

Granted the privilege to go to college, I dove head first into the things “New” Nia loves. New Nia loves creating art, New Nia explores unknown lands and channels seas.

YOUTH:

At age 9 my family and I took a trip to South Carolina. My family down south had a giant pool that went up to 8 feet but felt like 30. Nine-year-old Nia was scared to jump in. Not sure why, being that I was regularly taking private swimming lessons at the YMCA.

My Uncle Greg saw me pondering the safety of the deep end and watched from a distance. For 30 seconds, he watched me contemplate jumping into waters I was born to be familiar with. At the 30-second mark, he walked over, picked me up, and threw me in. Naturally, I swam out of survival.

Although traumatizing, I enjoyed the depths of the water and recognized how buoyant my body could be. How effortlessly it glides through the water, how safely it holds me.

That day, I was gifted the opportunity to eagerly jump into the unknown and grow familiar. Take chances! Ride waves on boogie boards or autographed Stussy. Who cares? Live freely, act, laugh, and cry. Always dive head first into life, or else Uncle Greg will throw you in.

Oh, how whimsy and wonderful the water can be as it mirrors the world around me.

-NB