As a massage therpaist, a practitioner in The Healing Arts and a caregiver, I have spent most of my time doing what I think should be done or what I have to do. I love my work and I’ve enjoyed being helpful to people I’ve taken care of, but I’m at a point in my life where I want to start doing things that I just want to do. I have no intention of abandoning my long time career, but it’s time for something extra.

I have not really been a person who had Hobbies or many activities outside of work or working out, so it’s been interesting for me to become a bit more selfish, and just do something that I enjoy for no other reason but to get better at things I like doing. I come from a family of funny, talented people. We are always making people laugh, and when we get together, our faces hurt at the end of the day. It’s something we take for granted, this ability to entertain and make people laugh. What is amazing to me is that other people are beginning to value this aspect of my personality.

I have often joked that all my friends are either 20 or 30 years younger than me or 20 years older than me. I like to think that the young ones keep me hip and interested in learning new things and the older ones keep me grounded and accountable.

Recently my young friend Kristen Warren suggested that I take a voice acting class. She said “Val you’re naturally funny and you seem to enjoy doing characters and voices you may want to take this class at Prodigy Studios“.

So I took her youthful advice and made the leap into a voice acting class.

I am enjoying learning about voice acting and I have met some fabulous nice young people. I enjoy being around their enthusiasm but I also enjoy being in a group of people where you can go crazy and act nuts and no one is shaming or correcting you. We actually egg each other on. I know that people take personal growth workshops and continuing education workshops to benefit themselves or their careers. I believe this class will qualify as such for me!

It had never occurred to me that taking this fun class would also be a good way to explore where I am expanding or need working on. This is not just about voice overs and acting. At least two of  students in our class are authors. They’re working on finding their character’s emotion and voice. There are others who eventually want to read audible books or become a cartoon voice over artists. Then there are those of us who are just having fun learning something new. Unsure of where this will lead, but happy to learn.

Our teacher Jonathan and his assistants offer constructive criticism an insight. They’re almost like having a life coach because they’re holding you accountable for the results and encouraging you to go where they know you can go. I am enjoying this class and I’ll keep you posted on what I might want to do with it next I encourage you to find something interesting to learn about, it’s the best way to continue enjoying life evolving as a human being.

I would LOVE to hear any stories you have of a new venture, something you have begun to learn, or just started to do that you haven’t ever done before. 

The photo below is of one of my first paintings. I learned how to paint when I was a care giver for my friend Edna. 

Val Boonstra