You may start to see a lot more of my friend, Scorpy.

Almost exactly a year ago in Mexico, I woke up in the middle of the night to a sting that burned like a little flame inside my arm.

After scrambling with my husband to find the light switch, we stood silently over our bed, waiting to see what foreign creature would appear.

Neither of us could’ve expected an alacrán (scorpion in Spanish) to crawl out from under my pillow.

I quickly captured it with a glass cup, covered it with a coaster and was very eager to go back to sleep.

I know, I know. But I’ve always had an affinity for critters.

Thankfully, I married a wiser, more cautious man who somehow coerced me into seeing a doctor.

The rest was a fussy, rushed blur. Somewhere in the middle of it, I was told that this exact kind of scorpion had just killed our lovely doctor’s neighbor in 15 minutes.

Which, naturally, was a very comforting thing to hear at 2 a.m.

The next morning, a friend from high school texted me this scripture:

“Behold, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” — Luke 10:19

So basically, I’ve been running on this promise for the last 365 days.

And it’s carried me well.

Especially lately, in moments when I’ve felt like I don’t belong. There have been quite a few of those recently.

Maybe you’ve felt it too — walking into a room and immediately wondering where you rank in the pecking order. Wondering if you belong there. Wondering if everyone else got the memo except you.

Next time you find yourself there, remember this scripture with me.

You may feel like you’re at the bottom of the pecking order.

But maybe you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be..

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I’ve been thinking lately about the difference between a gift and a skill.

I recently directed my second music video. It’s for a song called “Home to Me,” which will be featured over the end credits of the upcoming film JIMMY.

The funny thing is, I never really aspired to be a director. Even editing over 10 official music videos is something I learned gradually, before I had encountered many of the creative partners I work with now — or maybe before I was ready for them.

That thought came back to me during an interview this week when someone asked, “How can someone use their gifts in music and movies like you do?”

I realized I’ve never really thought of what I do in film as a gift. I’ve thought of it more as a skill: something I’ve slowly learned, practiced and honed over the years.

Developing shot lists. Learning the language of a set. Sitting in dark editing rooms, deep-diving into Premiere or Logic. Building relationships with local directors, editors and producers. Styling myself and my cast. Figuring things out one project at a time.

But maybe the fact that something has required work doesn’t make it any less of a gift.

To me, a gift isn’t some instantly magical talent. It’s something that gives back to you as much as you’ve given it. And film has given me so much: a way to translate ideas into something tangible, a reason to keep learning, and a community of fellow creatives who have become close friends along the way.

So maybe the line between a gift and a skill has gotten a little blurry for me these days.

I don’t mind that one bit.

It takes strength to be a woman in 2024. But it must’ve taken something more like moxie to be an immigrant female in the 1970’s. This photo was taken at my birthday party. If you squint, you can see a mariachi band playing a Vicente Fernández song behind my great aunt Rachael and myself. This day kicked off filming for the first episode of a reality TV series called “Unshakable Moxie.” Before it premieres on February 13, 2024 I want you to hear straight from me that this has been one of my favorite projects I’ve ever been a part of. This series created a space for my cohost Toni and I to interview some of the most radiant and resilient women across the country. Their influence in the arts, politics, medical field, and the general raising of humankind have inspired me, to say the least.

Although we met with six phenomenal women, there are countless more in my life that have taught me about perseverance and power. One of them being great aunt Rachael. She taught herself an entire language, put herself through school, became a math teacher, and was kind enough to let me borrow this handmade Mexican vestido (dress) that she wore as a teenager. I can’t wait for you to glean as much wisdom from this series as I did. Thank you to the women that have not only forged a way before us, but also graciously hold the door open as we follow in their footsteps.