Welcome to In Harmony with, our ongoing series where we invite those who inspire us to share their stories and the rituals that help them stay grounded.

To close out the year, we sat down with Adrienne Rose White, a multifaceted force in entertainment. An actress, filmmaker, and screenwriter, Adrienne also serves on the board of the non-profit Healing TREE (Trauma Resources, Education & Entertainment). During our conversation, Adrienne shared her love of mixing mocktails, cuddling with her dogs, and sneaking in mini dance breaks between conference calls.

You were born outside of Los Angeles, but raised in Missouri. How did that shift in environment shape you, both personally and creatively?

I really appreciate the ways they both shaped me. Growing up near LA, there was a lot of diversity. People in my neighborhood and at my school came from all different walks of life, different backgrounds, different amounts of money. Everyone’s family was different, and that was a good thing.

I didn’t totally realize that was something special until I moved to Missouri. I grew up in the suburbs in Chesterfield, and there was still diversity. People’s families were from different places, but every family kind of had a similar amount of money. Looking back, I really value getting to know people from all walks of life in my early years, and that’s shaped how I approach my creative work now.

On the other hand, in Missouri, I had a lot of freedom that I didn’t have in LA. In LA, my brother and I were only allowed to walk to the end of the street and back. In Missouri, we could run around and make trails in the woods. There was a creek across the street and the other kids in the neighborhood, and I would go exploring there every day in the summer. I think that’s where my love of nature really comes from, and that factors into everything I do creatively and personally.

Did your interest in the performing arts emerge early in childhood, or did it develop over time?

Childhood, for sure. I went to a performing arts camp, and I learned the song “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, and I just loved it. Apparently it loved me back, because when the camp was over, the owners approached my parents and said they were producing a show and wanted me to be in it.

My parents said they were sorry, but we were moving to Missouri at the end of the summer. I was seven, and I immediately went into negotiation mode. “Can’t we stay? Can Mom stay? We can go back and forth. I can stay with the neighbors! Or my cousins!” I was basically a tiny agent with no leverage.

They said “no,” but I always remembered that moment. It was the first thing that let me know that I didn’t just love performing—performing actually loved me back.

How did your parents influence or support your pursuit of a creative path?

They supported me in so many ways. My dad always talks about spreading joy—it’s his life’s mission. And my mom always encouraged me to pursue education and learn more about what I cared about. I always wanted to do summer camps around acting and filmmaking, and they really supported me in doing that.

I remember there was a summer program at Chapman University where you got to make a short film. That was the first time I made a real short film using good equipment. I learned how to use professional editing software. 

I acted in other people’s projects, I made my own project, and it taught me that the thing I loved most was possible for me to do professionally. I had worked at a pool in Chesterfield most of that summer, and my parents could have said, “Great, that’s enough.” Which honestly would have been fair. But instead, they supported me in following what excited me, and that made me feel taken seriously in a way I’ll always be grateful for.

Mocktail-making is one of your favorite rituals. How did you get into it, and what do you love most about the process?

I decided to take a break from drinking at the end of 2021. I’m very social, and I still wanted that celebratory feeling. Honestly, it helps that no one gets pushy when your glass looks festive. I wanted something more than water. I wanted fizz, bitterness, tartness, and complexity. 

I started with non-alcoholic wines, and then I began mixing in fresh juices from the farmers’ market with sparkling water. I started making more complex flavor profiles that looked like drinks when I was with other people, but I felt good afterward.

When I drink, my mind feels sluggish and I get headaches. With mocktails, I can celebrate, feel chic, and take care of my body. I love that they’re beautiful, intentional, and make celebration feel good, both before and after.

You’re deeply passionate about advocacy and building a better future. Was there a particular moment or experience that initiated that commitment?

Around the pandemic, I went through several big, traumatic changes including the end of relationships and shifts in my career. Going through that forced me to face things about myself, traumas that I had lived through, and really process them. When I learned about Healing TREE, an organization focused on helping people move through trauma rather than just managing symptoms, I felt deeply aligned. 

I’m not interested in fixing people. I’m interested in helping people have access to better tools. Because white-knuckling your way through life is exhausting, and also not very effective. 

I believe art, television, and media shape how we understand the world and ourselves. If we can use storytelling to help people heal instead of numb or limp along, we can create a better world.

In the midst of a full, creative life, how do you intentionally weave self-care into your daily routine?

I didn’t grow up making time for self-care, so now it has to be intentional. I start my mornings with meditation and journaling when my brain is still between sleep and wakefulness—there’s a lot of magic there.

Moisturizing and taking care of my skin grounds me. On my face, I use Gold Mine Face Oil. It makes me feel cared for and beautiful. Massaging your face is good for the lymphatic system, and I just look radiant after. On my body, I use Imaginary Picnic Body Oil at night. That’s when I release everything I picked up during the day. It’s like letting other people’s energy go, and tapping back into my own magic.

I also weave in dancing during the day. Even a three-minute dance break between calls completes the stress cycle and gives me energy. That’s how I get through a long day of meetings, planning, and writing. 

I love spending time with my two dogs, Bo and Aurelius. They have absolutely no concept of productivity, which is honestly very healing. And ending the day with a mocktail. Celebrating what just happened makes the hard work fun. I love the book Atomic Habits, and my biggest takeaway was: If it feels miserable, you won’t do it. So I try to make life feel rewarding as it’s happening.

What does “living in harmony” mean to you?

Living in harmony means paying attention to the season of life I’m in and resourcing myself accordingly. Sometimes it’s a season of rest and reflection. Sometimes it’s a season of going after what I want. Sometimes it’s about doing my work and seeing what’s magnetized toward me.

Living in harmony is less about getting it right and more about paying attention. Also, showing up for whatever season I’m in as my whole, authentic, worthy self.

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Find Adrienne:
Website
Instagram

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Interviewed & Photographed by Micaela Hoo, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, My July