Day 187: New Direction for Blog...

ABOVE: Pictures of Sohphia/Sofia's---[from Top to bottom]Sophia B. Packard, Sophia Loren, Ms. Sophia, and Sofia Coppola

Right this moment I’m supposed to be in the Hamptons. But instead I am blogging from my beautiful apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was in the Hamptons last summer, and this summer I’ve found myself, my soul, and I really need to work on the foundation of that relationship. It’s my hope that I just connected with you with that last sentence. Not the part about the Hamptons, but the self relationship part. I’m big on living your best life now. Nevertheless, right this moment, this very weekend I am nourishing my relationship with myself like a newborn. Before I forget, welcome to my blog. Today, I’ve decided to re-direct the way I express myself via this medium. Please continue to read on to understand my world. Again, thanks for taking the time to read what I have to say. I have lots to say and I welcome you to my journey. Please invite me into yours. I love connecting to all people or all kinds!

First things first, I am who I am. Who I am is a hybrid of who other women before me have been. These women are/were all races, religions, political affiliations, sexual orientation, geographical locations, and then some. My being pulls from all of them. I am not them, yet I pull from them for my purpose on earth. They have guided me on my direction. For the purpose of this blog, I am pulling from women with the name of Sophia. Why Sophia you may ask? Well one of my dreams is to become a Hollywood based actress and screenwriter. I watched the movie “Julia and Julie”, and I decided to attempt to do the same as screenwriter/director/actress Sophia Coppola. I was derailed by my selection of Sofia when I realized that she had a larger than life father, Francis Ford Coppola. So, after I made my selection on who to emulate professionally, I felt lost. Then I thought, Sophia has her earthly father and I have God, my heavenly father. So I will follow suit like she has and does. I started the blog on February 17, 2010, with the goal of actually living IN my dream by February 17, 2011. Well since that very day when I made my decision some surreal things have happened to me.

They are as follows:

1.I starred in my first play as an adult.
2.I submitted my first spec script to a contest
3.I’ve been committed to this blog like crazy (with no audience that I know of)
4.I was let go from my job as a Quality Manager. I am a scientist by trade.
5.I have invented a product ( now selecting patent attorneys)
6.I’ve started a start up business, Speak Scientific Productions
7.I’ve read a total of 86 books this year so far
8.I’ve watched a total of 129 films this year (studied the films special features) as directed by Spike Lee during a filmmakers masters class I took with him.
9.I attended a film festival as a patron ( I am a serial volunteer)
10.I’ve auditioned for 11 projects.
11.I’ve lost a lot of weight and I am healthier ( see previous posts)
12.I was invited to serve on the board of Girls on the Run International
13.I went to my first Triathlete meeting for newbie’s
14.I joined a Portuguese Language group in my city
15.I’ve started travel blogging for American Airlines black traveler site blackatlas.com
16.I’ve written two branding campaigns for two large corporations.
17.I’ve written a step outline for several films and one TV show
18.I’ve started dabbling into Photography
19.I’ve started writing a novel based on my life in 2000-2001
20.I’ve developed a closer relationship with God.

I state all of the above to explain to you that I am more than just an actress. I am Mashawnda. I am a serial entrepreneur. I am a writer. I am a philanthropist. I am a yogi. I am a Christian. I’m a former heartbreaker. I am a serial artist (truth be told). I’ve sculpted clay, I write poetry. Professionally, I am a scientist. That’s how I’ve paid my bills for the past ten years. I’ve conducted research and testing on Cancer and HIV, as well as the West Nile Virus. I’ve modeled for Belk Department stores, so I guess I am or have been a model. I’ve owned a failed DC-based non-profit. My list goes on. I’ve done a lot and I’m happy doing a lot with my time on earth. I never do it all alone, that’s for sure, but I am my own woman. I have many titles and for this blog I am following suit like Sophia.

Without further ado, I’d like to post this article about the name of Sophia:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=1079252

As the article states the name Sophia has many variations. For this blog I'll use them all. Also, while that article was great, I must do a Kanye West interruption and say that the author forgot two women of African-American decent that I also relate to named Sophia: Sophia B. Packard and Ms. Sophia from the film, “The Color Purple”. Yes, the role Oprah Winfrey played. I am all of them and then some.

I will blog daily and I expect your interaction with my daily posts. I mean whether you are emailing me from work, the beach, or your bathroom let’s start a lifelong conversation. I need you and maybe you will come to need me.

Stay Peaceful. Stay Pretty. Stay Paid.

Mashawnda Dowell

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