I dare you
It all started with a script that was emailed to my agent. The script was about a teenager who decided to break away from life, friends and luxuries and spend time in solitude.
So, I was lying beside the pool sipping my yummy margarita when my manager showed me this beautifully written script. After negotiating with the writer and the producing agency, my salary was settled and the shooting will start in two months.
As a tradition I threw a pre-shooting party during the party I gave a speech where I mentioned that the movie was talking about this teenager who spends a few months in a monastery praying, fasting and meditating.I found that all my friends burst out laughing and said “how can YOU last in a monastery for months, the only time you were alone was for an hour in your mount rocky cottage waiting for your friends!” I was agitated and I started blushing, and I defensively said “yes, I can”. Then i heard a squeaky voice saying “I dare you can stay in a monastery for a month” and I spontaneously said “you are on!” and I didn’t know then that this was a life changing sentence.
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I started packing only the necessities only and I ended up with six luggages. My agent called me one last time trying to persuade me not to go, but after his last hopeless try he hung up wishing me good luck, that I really needed.
My limo parked in front of the monastery I said goodbye to my cute Labrador and headed towards my new home for the next month.
I held the door knob with my perfectly manicured, shaky fingers. I slowly opened the door and suddenly found like 50 pairs of eyes staring at me. Only then was I aware of my scandalous, hot pink, Gucci, mini dress. My face turned red, all the monks were wearing a weird black and white sort of robe. Oh my god, I thought that would be an easy week away from my hectic and vibrant life, then I started to doubt my will.
A monk greeted me with a nod and led me to my room, it was so plain: a rough bed with pale white sheets, a cross on the wall and a wooden wardrobe that I seriously doubt is enough for my clothes. Then a monk entered my room holding something in his hand, he put it on the bed he pointed at it then at me. I figured out that this would be my outfit, so I put it on then I went out to the great hall it consisted of a large wooden table with chairs on both sides. I sat down and a cheerful monk sat beside me he started mumbling some words with his eyed pointed to the ground “today we are going to meditate in the open air and tomorrow we are fund raising for children suffering from cancer.” I whispered “thank you”. An hour later I was somewhere with my eyes closed and the sun burning my skin, I started thinking of my life and how superficial I became, what about my relationship with god? Ohh I don’t even have one. Suddenly a strange feeling of well being and satisfaction filled me. I opened my eyes to see a bird hopping on a tree putting worms in her babies’ mouth. The scene was absolutely touching, I wondered when was the last time I helped someone in need?
I headed back to the monastery, it was like a beginning of a quest to find myself, I wanted to know what do I truly like and enjoy in life? I started tracing back to the day when it all started that acting and show business career. I was just a child I was foolish and hasty, I can’t just suddenly pull back from everything that I had accomplished and while I was thinking I fell asleep.
I woke up the next day so energetic; I ate my thin meal of breakfast with humility. I learnt to accept what was offered with gratitude, and then the fundraising began. The choir was singing and everyone was enjoying his time except for me, I felt useless. I really wanted to help those children so I ran back to my room, opened my wardrobe and started piling dresses, shoes, make up and anything I could lay my eye on. I grabbed the pile and hurried outside, I started selling my stuff and at the end of the day I took the profit and gave it to the monks.
I spent the next few days refraining myself from all the luxuries and spending time in solitude meditating and fasting. I spent a disciplinary month that I’ll never forget. And at the end of the month I decided that half the profit of the movie will be donated to the monastery.
I opened the door and a cold breeze brushed away me hair, I had that surge of affection towards life I wanted to enjoy every second of it. My friends were waiting for me outside in a pink limo; they were all waving to me happily. When I got in they asked me “how was your month?” I replied enthusiastically “GREAT!” They didn’t know that this was a life changing month for me.
I sat there in silence while my friends sang loudly so one of them said “what’s wrong why are you so quite?” another answered “just give her a few days and she’ll be back” I wondered “will i??”
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for my beloved mom