My friend Jazmine and I have made it an annual tradition to attend Women in Film‘s Martini Madness fundraising event together. This is our 3rd year we’ve gone together! This year’s theme was the silent film era and was hosted at The Butcher and Bullock downtown.

Every year they host a silent auction to raise money for the organization and include items such as camera gear, post production services, acting classes, film festival passes and gift baskets. They also have a costume contest where this year’s winner was dressed as Charlie Chaplin!

I always enjoy reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. I had a great conversation with a women I met who is a Cancer survivor and is currently in remission. We chatted about how having Cancer changed her life. Not only in how it affected her body but how it affected her outlook on life. When she entered remission she decided that her life needed to change. She quit her job and decided to follow her passion working in the film industry and hasn’t looked back since.

We chatted for a long time about the struggles and rewards of pursuing your passion. I love listening to people talk about what they love to do and watching the way their face lights up when they talk about it. It’s humbling to be reminded that creating art is a gift and I’m thankful to have met so many wonderful people along the way.