Meet Shira Rosenzweig

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

Shira, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose at fifteen. And then I found it again at twenty six. And then once more a few years later. Purpose number four is expected to make an appearance any day now.
My first purpose landed me in Toronto, Canada, with a PhD in Neuroscience.
See, I was clearly destined to be a scientist – unraveling the mysteries of the brain, curing disease and changing the world for the better. I knew without a doubt it was the right choice for me because I was a brainy nature girl with endless curiosity and a zest for research.
It wasn’t an easy journey, but I was successfully conquering one academic peak at a time, well on my way down a promising career path.
Imagine my surprise when I realized one day that, despite all my accomplishments, the best part of my days, the moments that brought me the most joy, where spent doing something entirely unscientific – I was writing short stories and screenplays, and this hobby of mine was slowly occupying more and more of my time and attention. To my delight, my creative work was also getting professional validation.
And so, my second purpose landed me in Los Angeles, California, with a bunch of screenwriting awards, a lit agent and a manager.
See, I was clearly destined to be a writer – telling stories about the human condition with a science twist. It was a different world to academia, one where my success as a neuroscientist was reduced to a “unique background”, and the merit of my writing was only half the battle. The highs of this world – seeing my words come to life on the screen, witnessing the emotions they evoke in others – were (and still are) intoxicating and convinced me this was the right choice for me. The lows of this world (rejection; dead ends) were a constant struggle.
And then, COVID-19 happened. Nothing like a global pandemic to throw things into perspective and make one question one’s life choices. Nothing like being cooped up in an apartment to rekindle my love for the natural world. My days were spent gardening (in containers on a balcony, in lieu of an actual garden), and learning all there is to know about plant science and soil biology. One rainy night found me collecting earthworms from under the hedges surrounding our building’s parking lot, to add to my tomato containers. Any neighbors watching must have thought I’d gone mad, but I was having the time of my life, and it occurred to me that it was the most on-brand thing I’ve done since I was 10 years old.
The biggest lesson from this strange, ongoing journey, is that I no longer believe that I, and maybe many others, have one purpose in life. We keep growing and changing, learning new things and rediscovering old loves. Turning in a different direction as we evolve, redefining what our purpose is and how success looks like, is essential for happy, meaningful living.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a writer, filmmaker and neuroscientist based in Los Angeles, California. I was born and raised in Israel, got my Neuroscience PhD at the University of Toronto, and completed my post-doctoral research on stroke at UCLA. Researching the many mysteries of the brain around the world and navigating the complexities of biomedical ethics, I gained an unconventional perspective on storytelling which I channel into my creative work. My films, screenplays and teleplays all embody my unique take on the interface between science, ethics and the human condition. My latest project is a high-concept TV pilot that explores how a sudden metaphysical transformation disrupts the life of a Gen Zer in unexpected ways. I’m excited to share it with the world!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Although every journey is unique to the person who’s making it, I found it helpful to connect with people who have made similar journeys, or people who are already at the place I aspire to get to. Here is why: trial and error is an important part of the journey – we become wiser as we learn from mistakes. The “veterans” of the journey are often happy to impart such wisdom on the up-and-coming folks, to help us avoid making the same mistakes they did. We’ll still get to make “new” mistakes, but good advice might spare us from making some really unnecessary ones.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

In my early twenties, while still an undergrad, I was working as an assistant to a man who had a substantial disability. He was a war veteran who had lost both his hands, most of his eyesight and part of his hearing on the battlefield. As I got to know him better, it became apparent that, despite his disability, he was, in many ways, leading a richer, more meaningful life than I was; he had a loving wife and kids, a successful career in academia, and he was actively engaged in sports, travel and culture. I believe that many people think about accomplishing goals, changing their lives or chasing their dreams, but then find a whole list of reasons why they just can’t do it. What I learned working for that man is that perseverance, hard work and a good attitude can overcome even seemingly impossible obstacles. While I recognize that not everyone has his level of mental resilience (I’m not sure I do), his inspiration made me stop and think twice before deciding I can’t do something.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.synapticcreations.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.rosenzweig
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirarosen/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF49jVkH4x56Uwi8vtAI9tA