We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Dervin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

For the past 6 months, I have changed my entire life around by training for The Malibu Triathlon. Bold statement, Tara. Yes, you heard right. I always heard the phrases people would say like, “You can really change your life in half a year/a year…etc” and I pondered over it like an outsider looking in. “That could never happen for me,” that little pesky voice in your head can say. How easy it can be sometimes to feel like an onlooker, a bystander to your own life-to feel a lack of agency, control, power. Well honey, I was OVER that feeling. I wanted to take the steering wheel on my own life. It was after I got back from a bachelorette trip for my friend’s wedding in Las Vegas, and I had landed in LAX that this idea came to me to begin training for a triathlon. I was walking through the airport alone, just realizing how sometimes in life you must walk alone, but that does not mean you are alone. I had just been around so many people and the glitz and glamour of the party scene there, yet I often found myself standing in a corner alone. One of the nights I even stayed back at the hotel and just went to sleep. I felt like a party pooper, but I tried my best to still have fun and it did make me truly so happy to see my friend happy. I was genuinely inspired by my friend’s happiness and instead of feeling negative emotions, it motivated me. I tried as hard as I could to be present but there was that feeling again of just something off balance. I just remember getting a bagel and shmear at Einstein’s (the one right before baggage claim, yeah you know the one-across from Urth Cafe but that line was too long and ehh sometimes Einstein’s just hits right)—where was I? Ah yes. And honestly I don’t remember if I saw some ad on my phone that was perfectly curated for my needs subconsciously influencing me because technology is taking over the world-or if the thought came to my out of nowhere…but I know I was Divinely led to begin my training process. I needed a change. So that’s where this began…I knew that I can be impulsive at times and so I actually did not allow myself to sign up for two weeks until I proved to myself I was capable of maintaining a routine and consistent commitment to this goal. Once the two weeks were up-I signed up, and it’s been a forward motion ever since. The best part is that The Malibu Triathlon benefits Children’s Cancer Research. Sometimes when we do something beyond ourselves, we find the greatest reward- If you’d like to donate, please feel free to check out my fundraising page! https://secure1.chla.org/site/TR/MalibuTriathlon/TriathlonTeamRaiser;jsessionid=00000000.app20114b?px=3013620&pg=personal&fr_id=1310&NONCE_TOKEN=990E07031CA9BBC386AFB952D2A3238A&fbclid=IwAR3GUnwR9ykIRphLeAuz6wKCi1Mb10ZGbI6pBbRJHyYnCWaOHL3InXtkN4g

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I believe I mentioned earlier that I just wanted to be known as Human in this article. See, I think we place too much emphasis on job titles. In LA, and all over the world, but yeah—especially LA, people will legitimately ask you what you do before they even ask your name so they can decide how much respect to give to you the rest of the conversation. It’s kind of sick lol.
I’ve been on every end of the spectrum and witnessed how people treat me differently depending on this-so here’s my statement to the Universe. Treat people well regardless.
I would like to share a little snapshot story of my year if I may:

I was working at a Hollywood talent agency < People treated me a certain way because of this fact.
I was laid off from this talent agency just before the Holidays < People treated me a certain way because of this fact.
Then I was unemployed. <People treated me a certain way because of this fact.
Then I got a job as a pre-school teacher. <People treated me a certain way because of this fact.
Now I’m beginning my next professional chapter, just an all around entrepreneur, producing a few projects, writing a few projects, and working hard wherever I am. As long as I am flexing my creative muscles and helping the world-I’m good. Human. Just like you. We’re all creatives that’s what life’s all about. And we are all children, brothers and sisters of One Creator. <3

PS: GO SEE THE BARBIE MOVIE I ALREADY SAW IT TWICE AND I NEVER DO THAT THIS MOVIE IS LEGENDARY. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE VERY REAL UNATTAINABLE PRESSURES TOWARD PERFECTION AND REMINDS US ALL THAT WE SHOULD LOVE OURSELVES HELL YEAH!!!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn pretty much everything Hollywood and society ever told me. That’s it. HAHAHA.
Now I’m doing my best to be a part of the positive change.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I just want people to know they aren’t alone. I want people to know that being weird is the new cool.
To embrace who you are, the good, the bad, the ugly.
That perfection is a myth.
That strong is the new pretty.
That nourishing yourself with love is the new diet culture.
That Hollywood standards are bullshit.
Be Your Own Standard.
Be Your Own First Love.
Make Art That Makes You Happy.
Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger.
If my art can make one less person feel alone, that’s sort of all I want.
Peace on Earth too. Yes Please.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tara_malibu_tri