Don't let your Figs fall

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked." Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

If you know me, you know that I am an advocate of following your dreams, no matter how many or how random and seemingly unrelated.

But many people beg to differ, arguing they'd hate to be a "jack of all trades, [if a] master of none," and as a perfectionist who strives to be the very best at anything and everything I pursue, I understand this common misconception. However, I've recently learned to let go of my perfectionist tendencies in an attempt to pursue all that I love, whether that means I achieve the status of a "jack" or a "master,"  as long as I've led with love.

Pursuing what you love has nothing to do with the mastery you achieve. Personally, I believe that one can be a jack of many trades and a master of some. But the point of following your heart is to follow your heart, not to present yourself to others as a master. That, I believe, may naturally follow, depending on how much time and love you choose to dedicate to that passion.

For instance, one of my biggest goals in life is to become a polyglot. Currently, I am fluent in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and Italian) and know the words to songs in more than 10 others (including Russian, Portugese, French, Ukrainian, and Polish). Experts say that each time you pick up a new language, you slightly minimize your vocabulary in the others, as your brain only has so much physical capacity. But this capacity is immense and, within a lifetime, boundless, really. By the same token, being multilingual expands the brain's cognitive and intellectual capabilities; in other words, the more new languages you learn, the further your brain can go.

The whole reason that I want to be able to call myself a polyglot is not because I want to prove to everybody that I can speak several languages or because I want to become a master at French, let's say. For me, it is because there is nothing more magical than that moment when your brain finally opens itself up to a new language and you can at last understand. If you've picked up a language in more recent years, then you know the exact feeling I'm talking about. There is nothing more extraordinary than this.

So, if I could travel to several countries around the world and read about their history, communicate with their people, and understand their art, I would consider myself successful. A master not of languages but rather of communication—and that, for me, is more than I could ever wish for.

That being said, in addition to polyglot, allow me to introduce to you the other figs on my very vast tree.

1. Film writer/director

Brandi (Mila Degray) dancing at her 18th birthday bonanza in my 2022 short film, Brandi's Epic 18th Birthday Bonanza.

Number one passion since the age of I couldn't even tell you. I'll dedicate a full post to this one day, but it is, after all, the major I chose to pursue, and I think that speaks for itself. Since I was an itty-bitty kid, creating has been (and continues to be) my way of entering another universe, wholly and completely.

2. Sound designer

This is a little knack of mine. Now, if you haven't seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you've got to. It's one of my favorite movies of all time and downright hilarious (you'll also get the reference if you do). But I find that sound really brings a whole new life to a film. Plus, inventing sounds with random objects is actually a really fun experience!

3.    Travel blogger/documentarian

As Anthony Bourdain once said, "Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you." Enough said, I think.

4.    Entrepreneur

I have a lot of really crazy and random ideas that I think are worth testing at some point.

5.    A happy home, alla Italiana

That's right, I'd love to marry and raise a family in the beautiful country of Italy—my first home away from home and, in my heart, forever my home. Even if that means occasional power outages and having to hang my intimates up to dry for everyone else to see, those are little quirks I'm willing to love for la dolce vita.

6.    Creative director

Again, lots of cool ideas worth exploring. More specifically, I'd love to pursue it in the world of fashion. I've always loved fashion, and after taking a fashion class during my semester abroad, I realized my love was actually a little bit deeper than I'd thought.

7.    Music supervisor & music video producer

I live, love, and breathe music. I hear music and I see things, and I need to make those things seen by everyone else!

8.    Politics

Controversial!!! I kid. Seriously, I think I have a lot of really great views and values that I not only preach but also practice. I think Congress could use a girl like me some day.

9.    Helper of the world

I'm not even sure what this means, but I want to give back, in whatever way that may be. As of right now, I'd love to volunteer with local projects and maybe someday, internationally, through humanitarian assistance agencies.

10.    Professor

A wise, old professor that everyone turns to for guidance? She's got this immense collection of books and records and works of art and films on tape. I mean, even if we don't watch films on tape anymore, how cool would that be?

11.    Conlanger

Now this is awesome. I discovered this when I was rewatching Dune 2 the other day. "Wait a minute," I thought to myself. "Someone came up with the language of the Fremen; this must be some kind of job dedicated to this." Surely there was, and now I'd like to pursue that too.

12.    Martial artist

Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) in Kill Bill, Vol 2., directed by Quentin Tarantino.

She's an icon.

I grew up watching Kill Bill from time to time as a kid (I know, crazy), and upon a full 2019 watch, I found myself in utter awe. She knows it all, from Kung Fu to Samurai sword fighting and Krav Maga. I wanted to be able to fight like that too! So, I am now working on signing up for some classes back in my college town for the upcoming semester! Makin' it happen!

13.    Backpacker

I've done it before, for very short periods of time, but done it nonetheless. And let me tell you something: as an overpacker, the hardest thing ever. At one point, I had to pack 10 days worth of skincare, outfits, and accessories into this one backpack! It wasn't easy, but it was possible. I even made enough space for gifts!

14.    Something in the realm of finance

I'm a big advocate of financial stability. I don't hope to achieve any certain amount of money just to say I did it, but rather to keep myself and my family afloat without worry. Once I figure that out, I hope to share my words of advice with the world.

Please, don't let your figs fall to the ground and rot. I disagree with Sylvia Plath respectfully—it's never too late.

Always,

Anissa <3