One Word Only

Ever thought about what one word would best describe you? 

For what it's worth, I once asked my husband to describe me in one word.

(No easy task.)

"Only one word?" 


"Yes, one word."

"Ooooh. Okay, give me a minute."


"Cartoon."

"Wait, that’s the one word you’ve chosen to describe me?"

"Yes. Cartoon. Definitely, cartoon."

"You mean like Jessica Rabbit or Betty Boop?"

"No, more like Olive Oyl."

Yikes!

For your enjoyment: Olive Oyl's "Why Am I So Beautiful"

BTW: Olive Oyl was created by: E.C. Segar. Her (debut) voice was portrayed by Bonnie Poe, and has since been voiced by Mae Questel; Marge Hines; Marilyn Schreffler; Shelley Duvall; Kelly Hu and Amy Adams.

So...what one word would describe you?


I value you + your views, so let's communicate!

www.debbybarnes.com

Blessings & Blows

Blessings & Blows

Life is chock-full of them.

And they can tip our 'scales' on any given day.

The approval  /  The disapproval

The acceptance  /  The rejection

The inclusivity  /  The exclusivity


The wins / The losses

When we experience the highs, the lows, the blessings and the blows –

..how we choose to respond, is going to make all the difference in the world -

…and keep ‘our scales’ in balance.

How do you keep your 'scales' balanced?

I value you + your views, so let's communicate!



PS: Yay! Summer vacation. Boo-hoo - No Sunday Sidelines on August 3rd. Yay! Back again on August 10th!

www.debbybarnes.com

Express Yourself

Expressing yourself can be…

scary, but liberating;

revealing, but honest;

intimidating, but beneficial;

peculiar, but original;

self-indulgent, but well-meaning; 

unconventional, but therapeutic;

risky, but worth it.

There’s an imaginative and inspiring Creative hiding inside of you.

So,  express yourself!

Charles Wright: Express Yourself

PS: Free smiles + virtual hugs to every reader!

What are some of the ways you express yourself?

I value you  + your views, so let's communicate!

www.debbybarnes.com

Fanned Into Flame

Fanned Into Flame

It’s there.

In each of us.

The unique gift we were given.

The spark that waits to be fanned into flame.

So, fan it on:

 Monday, Tuesday

Wednesday, Thursday

Friday, Saturday

...and Sunday.

Because you were meant to burn brightly every day.

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

Albert Schweitzer

Who fans the flame within you?

I value you + your views, so let's communicate!

www.debbybarnes.com

In-Genie-ous

I honestly love giving credit where credit is due and I’m spoiled for choice in the Voice Over community. There’s a whole lot of credible, talented and prolific Creatives inside of it. One such guy is John Lano. (He's the 'genie' of voiceovergenie.com. And who doesn’t want to befriend and big-up a genie, right?) His blogs are always a treat, especially his: 28 Veteran Voice Actors Give Brutally Honest Advice To Their Former Noobie VO Selves. Not only was it an ingenious topic, but it was such an interesting read. So, even though it’s long overdue, John’s getting an enthusiastic Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah! (…alongside all the others that contributed to his blog.)

So, for readers who relish true personal stories, (…of which I am one) John’s blog has us chomping-at-the-bit right out-of the gate. He asks us to: “Pretend you are this person as you read it.” Clever. And in my humble opinion, the story is classic, especially to any newbie Voice Over Talent. (And I actually think it would work quite well as a comedy sketch.)

The person who’s true story he showcases, is the lovely Michelle Falanga. And she’s the first to offer us the advice she would have given her VO newbie self. It’s precious. (…quoting her now would give too much away.)

John then decides to ask other “… seasoned voice actors to share 1 piece of advice they would like to tell their former noobie voice actor selves.” He then goes on to write: ‘Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand new to the field, you’ve gotta read their “Honest Abe”-like advice.’ He’s right.

Out of his notable list of 28 I had a tough time choosing my favourites, but in the end I had to go with: 2, 3, 8, 9, 13, 24 and 27. ALL of the gracious contributions deserved 5 stars. And each one is guaranteed to speak to each of us differently. (I confess to reading it twice, myself.)

An in-Genie-ous blog, John. Rah-Rah!

Blog Link:  John's Blog 

John Lano's Website:  www.voiceovergenie.com

So what do you think? Share your thoughts below!



www.debbybarnes.com

Sunday SideLines: Go Retro Get Smart

Go Retro  Get Smart

TV Series (1965-1970) "Get Smart"

Remember them? (...with the very first "Smart" phone?!)

Bumbling Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) with his competent partner (Agent 99).

Vintage.

They had clever and quirky ways of working effectively back then.

And they had some rather strange and futuristic gadgets that helped them do it.

(I LOVED the groovy ‘shoe phone’ - above.)

At the end of the day, they had a job to do, and they got it done.

It wasn’t always straight-forward,

…but there was a plan and they followed it.

I’m glad we have modern-day gadgets for our modern-day missions.

BTW: Don Adams (April 13, 1923 – September 25, 2005) was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the television situation comedy Get Smart (1965–70, 1995), which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart (1967–69). He provided the voices for the animated series Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (1963–66) and Inspector Gadget (1983–86) as their title characters. He voiced Sid Pickles in all episodes of Spike & Mike (1993–99), and two follow up films, Spike & Mike Movie and Spike and Mike: Got Hostaged.

What new gadgets have you acquired to work smarter and more effectively?

I value you + your views, so let's communicate!

www.debbybarnes.com

Sunday SideLines: Umoja

Umoja

I like to think that the personal + professional communities we all belong to

…are ones that experience a very real sense of Umoja.

Umoja is the Swahili word for “unity”.

For me, the spirit of togetherness that I see and feel inside my particular circles –

…is second to none.

Regardless of what we’re blogging, debating, expressing or expounding on -

It’s marked with Umoja.

Ever let it be.

What particular characteristics are you drawn-to in your community?

I value you + your views, so let's communicate!

www.debbybarnes.com