Growth Mindset

I'm elated to work on my growth mindset! I'm the type of person that gets in the way of their own growth; I build my own walls. I really connected with Carol Dweck's philosophy of "not yet". For whatever reason I am a slow learner and a slow processor. Not to say that I'm stupid, because I'm not. I'm actually quite smart, but I have to slow down and take my time to allow thoughts to flow in correct order. Because of this I really did think that I was, indeed, very very dull. When I get into a negative mindset, every part of my being shuts down. I seriously begin to believe that there's no way I could improve. I wish to be a natural at everything that I do, but that isn't realistic, so I've had to find a way to stay motivated and encouraged even when I'm not getting something right away.

My best example is stage combat.

The number one rule in combat is to be safe, okay? Safety first, second, and last... basically. But while you're being safe you still have to communicate an effective and entertaining slap to the face, punch to the gut, stomp on the foot, smacked unconscious with a chair... you know, things that just happen sometimes. So you have to be technically tight with perfected precision... but above all else you must be safe. Then comes the tiny details. Let's say you slap me across the face, left to right, and then a punch in the gut. The slap (on a scale from 1-10) is a 6, which means I must move my head first, shoulders second, and then the rest of my body follows.
 Also, I have to do the knap (the sound that follows a physical impact). Can't forget that, that's crucial. Then I need to specifically isolate and engage my upper abs, contract, and give a low audible response. Sure, okay, great.

As a beginner you make small mistakes, like punching too high or too low, not "cutting the chord", or just looking, well, a little awkward. You run into physical limitations (I really hurt my knee back in the day, so falling on my right side isn't really an option). Today I was in class and I just could not get a specific punch we were working on. My frustration was beginning to build, especially after having to sit out during the falling warmup because my body just wouldn't agree to it. Normally, I'd let it affect me, get in my way, and I'd overthink the entire process. Yet this time I took a deep breath and I said (out loud) "It'll get there, just not yet." 

That's a pretty lofty explanation for two little words, but I have a feeling that they're really going to influence my life in a powerful way.

Thanks lil cat, I needed that.
Laura Gibb's Growth Mindset Memes

 I'm really grateful that this class has an addition focus on mental health. It's a helpful way to stay in check and learn some new skills, and I feel that it's encouraging my growth as a human being. It's creating tools to allow new doors to open, to assist in breaking from mental restrain and into
freedom of mind. I am not my mind, I have a mind. With that mind I intend to create powerfully!

Starting the Semester.

Whenever I begin a semester I like to familiarize myself with my schedule completely. I take the time to know what websites will be of useful reference (then bookmark them for safe keeping), and then I fill out my planner with all of the informative dates on the syllabus. Because of rehearsal I have to utilize all of my down time, and I find it's much easier to stay on task when I visually map out my schedule (on the planner), jot down what is due, when it is due, and a rough estimate of how much time I need to successfully complete each task without rushing through and making the assignment feel like a burden. Once all of that is complete, I pre-decide where I'll be completing my homework. Second Wind? The library? At home? My biggest challenge as a student is giving into temptation of distraction, so if I plan every aspect of my workload ahead of time, it makes intrusive and distracting plans much easier to avoid!

It's the age of distraction, and let me tell you, I'm part of it.
Nurse Journal

Storybook Favorites

Lessons From Karma

 I figured that this was going to be, hello, a storybook about karma and perhaps lessons learned due to said influence. I was correct. The topic of karma was what drew me to the blog in the first place; I'm very familiar with the western idea of karma, but not with stories from indian culture!  The overall design of the page was very simple, and I personally believe the owner could have put some more effort into the layout... but I don't want to occur any bad karma by saying that ;)
 I thought that the use of a talk show host leading interviews with people affected by karma was a really engaging and efficient way of coming up with various stories, and all the stories had clear ties to various Indian epics. It was both entertaining and an effective way to perceive karma in our everyday lives. I also appreciated that the stories were contrasting- one karmic experience was negative and the other positive. I definitely can see myself writing about karma in my future in this class. I find it incredibly interesting. This was my first storybook that I read and it really excited me to see how much freedom the writer had in terms of creativity and thinking outside of the box.

Indian Horror Story

While they didn't really reveal much of what I would be learning about, I was drawn to this storybook because of it's ominous title. I had an idea of it being related to haunting Indian tales, and the blog's layout and design reaffirmed my assumption. I really liked this design. The main colors, image, and text font created an ambiance for the writing. It was a happy accident to read this storybook after having read "Lessons from Karma". I was given a very strong example of good vs. quality. Not to say that Lessons from Karma was bad, because that's not the case, but Indian Horror Story contained so much detail; digital hand written letters (created by the blog owner) as an image, photos that had been photoshopped to create a certain aesthetic to match the blog, and the writing was crafted with such descriptive imagery that I could imagine every bit of the story's setting. This person obviously takes writing seriously and I really appreciated that. They also incorporated so many tales in a creative fashion, I was both inspired and intimidated.

Gossip Squirrel (/Love Through Natures Eyes)

I affectionally named this blog Gossip Squirrel because that intro really did it for me. The design was very sweet. The colors used gave an earthy/loving/feminine tone to the overall blog and I found that to be very fitting. I really enjoyed the pop cultural reference to Gossip Girl and how this was the writer's way of going about the stories. I feel like this way of storytelling could have gotten old really fast, but because of their subtle commitment to the gimmick I found that Gossip Squirrel worked entirely. It was a truly interesting shift of perspective! It also simplified the readings without dumbing them down. I have a feeling that this author really had a fun time with their blog, it was a nice reminder of what can happen when you don't take yourself too seriously. Reading these storybooks really reminds me how little I know of Indian stories, so I'm very excited to familiarize myself!

Examining these (and other) storybooks has given me a very good idea of what works, and what works even better. I recognized that you can easily tell when someone has contributed a lot of effort in their story, their design, their concepts (etc.), and when the pieces have been put together last minute, or without care.  I'm a very aesthetically inclined person, so I hope to create a storybook that obtains a strong and identifiable essence. I really liked how much effort Indian Horror Story showed with their images, how they photoshopped them into being what that blogger felt was needed. While all of the storybooks turned out well and they each had their own specific golden nuggets, I was really impressed overall by Indian Horror Blog. Everything came together so well. I'm excited to begin cultivating ideas for my own!

A photoshopped close up image from the portrait of Yama

from Indian Horror Story

Reading Options

I've decided to select the public domain edition of Ramayana for my reading adventure in this course. I really like how many options are included when utilizing the public domain, like the "audio book" option. Whenever I'm reading dense words, or names and titles in a different language, my brain doesn't take the time to break down the name and fully comprehend the pronunciation. I just accept how it looks and move along.

I'll probably still check out the other copy of the Ramayana from the library. I really like how it seems to be in prose and I think it'll be a good challenge.

So, in short, my text of choosing is the PDE version, but I'm still going to utilize both options so I can really be immersed within the story.

~~~

Freedom from all Misery
Sun Salutation
theharekrishnamovement.org

I truly know very little/surface area information on all things indian culture. I was really into astrology for a while, and from what I gathered, Vedic astrology is rooted from Indian culture. I do enjoy a good curry, I practice yoga, and most of the guided meditations I listen to stem from Indian practices. I love the idea of karma, and I do believe in it but I'm not sure exactly where my belief patterns fall on the topic. I'm excited to learn much more about the origin story! I also might find myself volunteering in Indian (working with children of the lowest cast.) so to understand the cultural backbone will help influence my decision in the future! 

WEEK ONE, Story

"A diller, a dollar
a ten o'clock scholar,
what makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o'clock
But now you come at noon."

(traditional nursery rhyme)

"a diller, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar"
From a young age the boy felt that he was destined for great things. Perhaps this was by way of his parent's grooming, for they believed that their son was a gift to the earth. While they had little money his parents made great sacrifice in order to send their son to the Diller School for Young Scholars.

"a ten o'clock scholar, what makes you come so soon?"
Due to his parent's busy work schedule he was dropped off early to the Diller School for Young Scholars everyday at 10:00. His grandmother would drive him daily, and he so cherished the time they would spend together. She would gently encourage him to value more than his brains, for he was more than that. He was brains, yes. But he was heart, and guts, and soul. He loved his Granny, because she saw the best parts of him.

"You used to come at ten o'clock but now you come at noon"
The boy's grandmother was beginning to forget. Forget to buy milk at the grocer. Forget to routinely paint her long, fragile nails. One day the boy sat idle on the front porch. The morning sun began to grow warmer and warmer as he checked his digital watch. 9:30 slowly ticked until it was 10:00, and then 10:00 turned to 10:18, then 10:18 turned to 10:45, and it wasn't until 11:11 that his dear sweet granny was seen strolling to the house. "What are you doing out here?" she asked sweetly. With a sigh the boy swung his backpack over his left shoulder and gently took her arm in his right. "Come granny," he said, "it's time to go to school." 

waiting for grandma....

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
"A diller, a dollar
a ten o'clock scholar,
what makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o'clock
But now you come at noon."

This old english nursery rhyme is a cautionary tale of the value of punctuality. It's a classic rhyme, so I wanted to put my own spin on it. I began to think about childhood and when a parent was late to picking you up, or dropping you off, and it's a situation completely taken out of your control.

The story comes from the nursery rhyme book.

Hello! It's me. (An Introduction)

My name is Cassandra Ciesla, and welcome to my little corner of this online classroom!

"You know what they say... when aunt flow comes to town you've gotta clear out the spare bedroom."
End the Sentence directed by Dan Almsley
(I'm not the Kotex box.)

I'm a drama major with an emphasis in acting, and I'll be graduating this spring. Maybe you've seen some productions at The University of Oklahoma (or have been forced to attend due to a class). Does Stepping Out or The Trojan Women ring a bell? As of October 2nd, I closed my first play of the 2016/2017 season, Let The Right One In (as Oskar's Mum.)

 I'm currently working on my first Assistant Directing credit for the musical, Next to Normal,  under the direction of Tom Orr, who is the head of my department and also the director of my previous play. It's been fun to hold a different position for the first time! 

A crew member caught a picture of my pre-show ritual for Mum.
I like to sit in her kitchen chair, smoke from the e-cig (mostly to make sure it was working before the show)
have a few sips from her "glass of wine" (water with food coloring)
and take the time to get into her mindset.
Let The Right One In
Directed by Tom Orr
Costumes by Lloyd Cracknell 

"She weeps."
The Trojan Women directed by Susan Shaughnessy
Costumes by Lloyd Cracknell
University Theatre, Helmrich School of Drama

It's an exciting writing semester for me, as I'm finally going to be trying my hand in playwriting. I'm very hopeful that I'll find myself really falling in love with the challenge of writing a play! For that class we had to write an artist's statement, and here's a little excerpt from mine...

(~by the way~ I'm super into it! All right, playwrights)

"I’m very curious about nature/nurture and how relationships impact people. Imagine the moment that your crush unexpectedly walks into the room- I am fascinated by heart rate quickening, breath rising, eyes dilating.  I love people, and I’m amazed that I will never get to live in anyone else’s head. Perhaps that’s another reason why I’ve been drawn towards acting. I want to bring light to the spiritual phenomenon that vibrates within our world; the things you don’t always recognize as messages or mini-miracles.  My audience is anyone who will listen. I hope that my stories can reach people from all walks of life- I believe that suffering and joy is found in each and every one of us. Your pain, which is probably different from mine, still hurts the same way my pain hurts me. We can find unity in that. I want to change lives, and such an aspiration terrifies me in a beautiful way, because it is a very big job and I’ll have to learn how to inspire such change."

After I graduate I plan to volunteer with a program called ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty) and I might just find myself teaching acting in India! I have a deep calling to go out and heal the world in whatever way I can, but going on a missionary trip never really felt quite right for me. Finding ASTEP has opened up some pretty big doors, and I think having a global experience is just what I need to continue blooming as a person and artist. I'm very excited, and honestly, ready to take a breather from my career while still practicing my passion. I'll always practice the craft of acting, and I definitely want to establish a successful career in the field (which includes joining the Actor's Union i.e. Equity(theatre)/ SAG AFTRA (tv/film). They offer insurance. Insurance sounds so nice.

As for these next ten years I plan to travel with my career, volunteer in the states and overseas, and ideally establish myself in an acting company and then eventually either own/co-own a studio where I can teach acting techniques/offer private coaching. Playwriting has become a fairly new development in my life, and I'm ABOUT IT. 
The whole goal is to find a community I love to artistically serve! 

I suffered from depression and anxiety for a very long time. Now that I'm body/mind/spirit healthy I'm a serious advocate for speaking out on mental illness, and I'm learning how to grow that passion into something tangible. I'm very much open to whatever opportunities the universe throws my way! I received some advice from a professional in the performing arts community who suggests, "jump off the high dive and free fall". After this year I'll be in some serious free fall. Who knows, maybe playwriting or screenplays are in my future? Or directing? Clowning? Sketch comedy? Endless unemployment? A dog?? Only time will tell.

Anything else? I'm very much into essential oils and aromatherapy, talking until the sun comes up, paying people to listen to my problems (also known as therapy), mediation, and yoga. I'm really fond of mostly all cheeses. Recently learned that I'm most likely allergic to cheese, but that's not gonna stop me.