Life

Lessons I Learned From Stand-Up Comedy Class

black-trench-coat-gucci-slides-thackerIf you can laugh at YOURSELF – then you are guaranteed a win. If you don’t win – well, you will just have more to laugh at!

Last year I took a couple of stand-up classes at Second City mainly because I wanted to conquer my fear of public speaking, and I heard that was a great way to do it, but also because I’ve always secretly fantasized about being a Comic. Since I’m a huge nerd, I was also just really excited for a reason to go back to school. Besides confirming that puns are my favorite type of joke in the entire world, I picked up some other life enhancing tips. Read on for more!

Today’s post is in collaboration with Thacker NYC, one of the first brands I worked with here on the blog and still one of my absolute favorites. I describe my Thacker pieces as the stuff in my closet that I actually wear – and wear over and over and over again. Basically what I live in. See some of my past collaborations with Thacker NYC here and here.

thacker-nyc-trenchwicker-bag-thacker

thacker-trench-wicker-bag striped-top-wicker-bag-thacker-nyc-gucci Trench coat +  Bag + Knit Top thanks to Thacker NYC | Shoes: Gucci | Jeans: DL1961

On to the lessons…here are the top five:

  1. Self-awareness is everything. Know yourself. I don’t know if I’m just not very observant (i haven’t really noticed ;)), but my self-perception was way off. I’m not really a girly girl even though the outside world sees me that way. Probably because I do love fashion and makeup and stuff but deep down I’m basically a teenage boy – I love getting dirty, wearing sweats, and sometimes forget to brush my teeth. Just kidding…kind of.  Also, I honestly thought I came off as a tough chick, when I now know I’m perceived basically as non-threatening as they come. Which leads me to the second part of this lesson, that it is ALL GOOD! Knowing yourself is number one but accepting yourself as you are is even more important. I still feel like a tough male teenager inside but I embrace my gentle, sometimes awkward non-threatening persona now.
  2. Practice Makes Perfect. You see, what had happened was…I was on stage at an open mic, and I didn’t have my bit memorized – which is fine because it was just a bunch of comics testing out new stuff – but I forgot my notes and tried to wing it and basically bombed out of fear. (Luckily I had brought a friend there with me solely for the purpose of laughing at my jokes.) People who do well at anything usually aren’t winging it. Also we only get better by doing, so practicing is the only way.
  3. Mean isn’t (that) funny, smart is funnier. Examples – mean: Roseanne. smart: Trevor Noah. Sometimes being mean is funny, but only if the subject is like, Donald Trump or something equally horrible. That also goes with all areas of life, like criticizing people or pointing out their flaws – it might make you feel slightly better in the moment but as a whole its not doing you any favors and most importantly – its just not cool. I’m so guilty of this and it is one thing I am really working on in my own journey to improve myself. I realized that sometimes I’d criticize someone or make a sarcastic joke about them – and then I would think, why did I do that? After a lot of reflection I figured out it often came from a place of insecurity within me – like deep down I might have felt threatened by her looks or success. Now, instead of being mean and criticizing, I try to focus on what I can do to improve myself or achieve more so I can feel successful.
  4. Commit to the bit. Don’t give up on your dreams! Your path may not be like someone else’s but keep chipping away at it. Since I started Love Zahra in 2012, I’ve had to teach myself everything from using a mac, to coding, to photography, videography, editing, and it was HARD. If you look at my old photos they were never not blurry. Also, even though I am a natural salesperson and excelled in my previous career,  when it came to running my own business, I had a lot to learn. So I’m taking it a day at a time, learning as I go, trying new things all the time, not giving up. Right now that means taking more classes (also because: nerd) to learn more about photo and video editing, making better pictures for my blog and more fun videos for my YouTube channel.
  5. When all else fails – laugh at yourself. The single best thing I took away from my stand up classes. Nothing is that serious, and if you can laugh you will get through anything. If you can laugh at YOURSELF – then you are guaranteed to win. If you don’t win – well, you will just have more to laugh at!

Thank you for visiting as always! xx

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Last week we took a quick trip to escape the snow for some sunshine in Key Largo, Florida☀️ We spent every moment possible outside, Tom and Adam got their Scuba Diver PADI certification (yay!) while Sophia and I spent our days either swimming or drawing marine life and landscapes. This was my first trip after my sister passed last November, and even though I look so happy here, there were so many moments I felt the grief and sadness, as if it happened just yesterday. I am still figuring out how I want to show up in this space, as I have changed so much as a person since the loss. I just don’t feel called to post some of the things I shared before. Maybe that will change someday, or maybe it will just naturally evolve into something new. I think I will take this year to just process it all. (Even the idea of taking an entire year to think through something is a huge shift for my usually hyperactive type A personality) My focus at the moment is just living in the moment with my family and friends, spending time doing things that make me happy and healthy. I hope to share some of that journey here with you ~ thanks for following along ❤️
I had planned to shoot this outfit in collaboration with @lenacoutureofficial right before my dear sister passed away. Saba, the designer, was more than understanding if I didn’t want to anymore - but after thinking on it for a while I decided I wanted to - in my sister’s honor 💗 She was always my biggest hype woman. When i would feel like I’m not good enough or that I should quit (which was often) she would tell me I was unique and great and to keep it up. When I think of my sister, beauty and love is all that she embodied in her being. She expressed that on the outside also - as she loved to wear everything glam, bright & colorful, and full of bling. Hair done, nails done, everything did - that was Nusrat. For this shoot I took the time to get glam after a long hiatus - and makeup and hair took so long because I think I forgot how to do it, but afterwards I was surprised how I felt transformed. When I wore this gorgeous outfit that I know was designed with such love and incredible attention to detail by @lenacoutureofficial, I felt all of that beauty - like a walking piece of art, and very much at peace. Thank you so much to @divmophoto for capturing the feeling so well 💕
Ski weekend with my favorites ❄️❄️ So proud of Sophia for skiing on her own for the first time!
There are some trees with seeds that only grow after a fire. Their seeds are completely sealed with a resin that have to be physically melted off by a great fire in order to propagate. So to do we as humans, gain wisdom only after great pain and suffering.*
A month ago (and one day) I lost my sister and best friend to cancer. I am still completely gutted and broken. But, I’m also so so grateful to have had felt the love that now brings me so much heartbreak. ❤️ I am so inspired by her - and I will forever live my life to honor her memory. Miss you sis ❤️
Classic outfit combo: oversized blazer + denim 🖤fendi mules @shoeslutz
Just a mom who loves mums 🌸 🪴
Cozy for a coffee date ☕️
French. Toast. Egg. Bake. Save this recipe for a weekend or holiday brunch - it’s SO good and fool-proof! I’m not even a sweet person and I love it. The pecans are a non-negotiable IMO - I get honey bourbon vanilla pecans for this and it is just heavenly. Enjoy!