It's All Love

An empowering collection written by Jenna Ortega, the award-winning actress starring in the hit Netflix series WEDNESDAY. These deeply personal stories and quotes are accompanied by beautiful illustrations that explore Jenna''s struggles with depression, experiences falling in--and out of--love, the loss of close family members, and growing up Latina in Hollywood. This collection from actress Jenna Ortega is filled with her own original quotes and affirmations that will inspire you to lean into faith and love and family during life''s most difficult, and most joyous, moments. Jenna has had to balance her acting career, her private life, and public expectations from a young age, and she’s learned that the only way to get through it all is to wake up every morning and affirm her commitment to herself, her faith, her mental health, and her family. In this honest and moving debut, she shares openly and intimately what it means to live this life of self-appreciation. Jenna''s vulnerability in her writing will remind readers that there’s power within us all and we are not alone in our struggles<.<

Auteur

Jenna Ortega

Échantillon de lecture

Everything I do is driven by love.&#160;

The way I interact with the world comes from a place of love and light. I’ve learned not to criticize, get caught up in negative energy, or speak badly about others. On subjects I’m passionate about and involved in, I speak out in a positive way to bring people together to discuss important issues without hatred. And when I feel less informed about a topic, I make sure to educate myself.&#160;

When I’m working, I try to bring love and positivity to the set with me every day. I love my craft, and I’m so grateful that I get to follow my passion. I let that love pour out in small ways and big ways: doing nice, thoughtful things for the people I’m working with goes a long way. Early mornings, late nights, and long days are often challenging, but they never get the best of me. I always remember how grateful I am just to be working. It’s all a privilege.

Prioritize kindness.&#160;

A costar once pointed out to me that every time I interact with someone new on set, I pay them a compliment. At first, I worried it meant I was being a suck-up. But I realized that when I was in a very dark place in my life and someone would compliment me, even if it was about something small like my shoes, it would lift me up. I internalized that lesson, and I look for something to appreciate in another person when we first connect. You never know if someone is having a bad day, and maybe a small compliment will help bring them a smile. It can feel good just to be noticed.

I only want to do kind things because anything else is a waste of time and a waste of energy. Being mean doesn’t improve your state of mind. Why not look for something positive?

Set the same standards for yourself that you would set for your best friend or your sister. Never settle.

I encourage my friends to focus on the personality traits of their crushes, not just looks. Someone who can challenge you intellectually and teach you something new about yourself is someone you can build a friendship with. The best relationships are always built on friendship first. Rather than get carried away by the attention or an initial attraction, I remind myself to really get to know someone. Trustworthiness, optimism, and a good sense of humor are very attractive to me. Life is stressful, so I need someone to help me feel good and see the positive. I also find kindness the most attractive quality in a guy. When I like someone, I want to see how he treats others who have nothing to give him in return, whether he’s kind for the sake of being kind.&#160;

I believe that some people are meant to be in your life for a reason. You can have more than one soul mate.

I am lucky to have a group of best friends who have grown up with me. One of my closest girlfriends and I recently connected on a deeper level, with long conversations about the universe, politics and social justice, our futures, and how quickly adulthood is coming upon us. We share opinions about the things that matter, and we have the same dry and sarcastic sense of humor. I feel like I can talk about things with her that I can’t talk about with many other people. She offers me a nonjudgmental place to talk during tough or stressful times. I’m so blessed to have a friend who understands and connects with me so deeply. I truly can’t imagine my life without her. She knows me, sees me, supports and appreciates me, and loves me unconditionally. How else would you describe a soul mate?

Be patient with a broken heart.

When you lose someone you love, it’s hard to separate yourself from the emotions and the memories. Healing is a process, and it doesn’t happen overnight. A relationship is only between you and that other person: nobody else will truly understand what it meant to you, and nobody else can know for sure when it’s time for you to move on.

Just as it’s important to cherish and respect your memories, it’s even more important to remember that you need to go out and make new ones. Continue to live life! When you are too focused on the past, you can get stuck there. Sometimes I’ll see a friend get so wrapped up in grieving the end of a relationship, they forget to go out with friends and make new memories. Try not to hold on to things that keep you stuck in the past. I’m not saying that you have to spend hours scrubbing your Instagram! But don’t clutter your space with mementos or photos, either. Those ties to the past will just hold you back.

You learn as much from the bad relationships as the good ones.

I’m grateful for every relationship in my life, good and bad, because they’ve all contributed to my growth. Sometimes the tough relationships end up teaching you more than the beautiful ones, as difficult as those lessons can be.

There was a girl I became friends with in middle school. She was new in town, so I took her under my wing and introduced her to my friends. She was so sweet at first, but it wasn’t long before she showed her true colors. I was devastated! She caused problems among my closest friendships for no clear reason. Ever since, I’ve been cautious about who I let into my inner social circle, and I’m open and direct if any issues come up with a friend. It’s made me appreciate my true friendships even more.

Never doubt your ability to love others and your ability to be loved.

Everyone has insecurities, and many people have moments when they feel they’re not worthy of love. Believe me, I’ve been there. When I feel really insecure and low, I tend to isolate myself from the people I love most so that I won’t drag them down. My insecurities act as a wall. But then I think about my family and my close friends, about how amazing they are, and wonder what I did to deserve them. And you know what I’ve learned? Those insecure, low moments are exactly when I need them most.

Trust your friends when they tell you what they see in you, and reflect their own goodness back to them.

When I’m feeling overly critical of myself, I trust my friends and family and their love for me. If they care enough to support me and love me, I have to trust there’s something they see in me, even if I can’t see it in myself. You don’t need a ton of people in your world--just a few important ones to reflect your value and give you peace when you can’t find it for yourself.

I don’t believe in love at first sight. I believe in love after building trust and friendship.

Love at first sight sounds so exciting: sweet and innocent and pure. But love, for me, is something you build through trust and connection. It&rsquo…