Age is just a number. Unless you live in LA and you just happen to be in the entertainment industry.

There is this notion that if you haven’t hit it BIG or found your true love by your early 30’s you might as well hit the road. I never worried about my age or fitting into the archetype of what life milestones I “should” be crossing. I lived my life. Followed my gut, and try to enjoy where it takes me. I know this is not traditional- but I trust what life presents to me.

It’s always been quite a fun ride. And when I have, like most of us from time-to-time, a feeling of being a little off-kilter or lost- I know the only way to "make it right." Go deep inside. Get really quiet. Talk to your best friend, family, or the family YOU PICK. I call them My Board of Direcotrs. Go to them. Divulge. And then wait and listen to that little voice inside. It always knows the way.

For those of you who are saying, “Whatever lady!” “Stop with your touchy feely talk” or even “Crazy people hear voices in their head all day long too!” I admit. Who I am is different. I choose to be happy. I work at it. Every. Day. I find interest in some of what I see and read. But I trust my heart and intuition MORE. This little recipe has always taken me to where I am supposed to be. And it is all really good.

But yes- I am different. Perhaps, more different than most. As my boyfriend’s 9 year-old daughter once told me, laughing her head off while we were driving in the car on a gorgeous summer day down PCH singing at the top of our lungs - “Christina- you are so weird. But weird in a really cool, good way!” I love that kid. I am still reveling in what all that means. To a 9- year-old. An exceptional 9- year-old. To me. I would have loved “super model” or “You are so smart/wonderful/ fantastic/feel free to insert-your-own- most-wished-upon attribute here. None the less, looking back on it. Next to my Emmy nominations- it is one of the greatest compliments I have received.

My Mom attributes "being different" to when I was in college and I was a passenger in a really, REALLY, nasty car accident. You know the ones you hear about or drive by and just cringe and want call your best friend, family. THAT kind of bad. Somehow….I survived it. I struggled for a while. A long while. Semi-paralyzed and hospitalized. It took years. I was a senior in college. And yes- It rocked my whole 21-year-old world. You know that master plan you have at that age? It all ended. But I was alive! All plans for a “future” were on hold. We didn’t know what would happen the next hour, day, week. But I was so damn happy because I. Made. It. I was alive. I got another shot at this crazy, cool thing we call life. A brush with death will do that to you. It changes you. It makes your every day experiences go back into Technicolor. Family becomes even more important. Friends are your life-line to who you were, who you are, and what the heck you will be on the other side of all of this. These things re-shape a person. They help you strive and stay alive. And having “something to smile about” can make your whole month. Heck- you whole year. Replaying one happy moment over and over in your head to get you through the mostly horrific days? Priceless. The. Best. Medicine. Ever Made. Period.

A face in constant pain is like a map. The furrowed brow, anguish, tears, tears, more tears. So yes- you really learn how important it is to laugh. Enjoy. Be! Be in gratitude. Appreciation. Look for reasons to love, to laugh, and to love and laugh more.

During that time, I learned quite a few things- the most important- I carry with me to this day. I was going to LIVE my life. No should’ve, would’ve, could’ve for me! I was going to reach for the moon and catch a star… or… at the very least… just hitch my way to the next great journey of life. My Mom says “You were only 21” and then she throws in a disclaimer because she is My MOM and doesn’t want to say a “wrong” thing even if it is 100% correct. (Especially after I almost died in a car accident. OMG. Sarcasm alert. Insert laughter here!) Look up "empath" in the dictionary and you will see My Mom. She is one of those people that is described as being "just a great soul.” All around loving, good, solid, person. Putting others before herself. It is her nature. Having said all of that- she will be the first to admit “Chris…you are so much nicer after your accident. I know it’s terrible- but you are a much better person now. “ Know what? She is right. And not just because she is my Mom. Little did I know ….where that "being different" would take me. Boy have I had fun! On my gravestone it will probably read “She had a REALLY good time in life, loved all creatures, and made a difference.” The latter TBD.