My favorite quote: "Being realistic is the most commonly travelled road to mediocrity" - Will Smith As a child you're always told that 'you can be anything that you want to be when you grow up’. Yet somewhere along the path, be it a concerned adult or the world itself, changes it's mind. As your age climbs, the blind encouragement of many adults often morphs into a jaded realism.
Your grand childhood imagination and confidence is quietly hushed, and the message is tweaked. 'You can be anything that you want to be, so long as it is a realistic goal.' My question is, "realistic to who?" No two people live the same reality. We are faced with different trials and tribulations on a daily basis, molding us into unique individuals with different perspectives of the world. I can't quite understand why we as humans insist on casting shadows upon the dreams of others. To those entering university, to those having recently graduated and to those who've found themselves years into an unfulfilling job - i'm talking to you - As someone who has studied acting/ film/media, I've always been faced with raised eyebrows and whispers of confusion. Over the years I've been bombarded with snarky comments and statistics of why my success in the arts is at odds. I thank those people with grace for their concern, but I also believe that, “when people can't do something themselves, they're gonna tell you that you can't do it" (The Pursuit of Happiness, 2006). Throughout my years in California, if there is one thing that I have learned from the amazing people I've met, it is that ‘no’ is not an answer, but merely a jumping point to find the next ‘yes’. As I begin this new chapter in my life, i'm doing it while, as always, pushing through the dark cave of skepticism molded by the opinions of others (I must admit though, I am very lucky to have the powerful support of loved ones who brighten even the darkest of places). Moving forth, I have ideas that I will attempt to execute (can't tell you just yet) and I KNOW it won't be easy, but I encourage you to join me. Wake up tomorrow and decided to make all decisions out of love (love for yourself, love for your job, love for others), not out of fear. In 2014, actor Jim Carry made a commencement speech at the Maharishi University of Management where he commented that, so often we "choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality," and I think that his words hold a great truth. He continued on to talk about his father who, "could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that was possible for him, so he made a conservative choice, and instead got a safe job as an accountant. When Jim was 12 years old, his father was let go from that safe job and their family had to do whatever they could to survive." Through that experience, he learned from his father that, "you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love." This story has resonated with me for many years, and holds a particularly relevant truth with the state of our current economy. I encourage who ever reads this to not be/become jaded by the world, but attempt to remember that childhood spark that believed that there were no limits. Don't allow the shadows of others to dim your light, and don't allow the responsibilities of the world to weigh on you (I don't know about you, but my scale and I have enough of a battle without the world adding on an extra couple pounds). We were not born to pay bills- that is a means of survival. We were born to find happiness- that is a necessity for survival. Now, I'm not telling you to quit your job and join a circus, but find what it is that makes you happy (even if it is simply a hobby) and take a chance. You CAN in fact be anything that you want to be, but it's up to you to be that person. The only thing holding you back from accomplishing your dreams is YOU and your excuses (i'm too old to start, i'm too busy, i'm not good enough...). We all have our doubts, but in order to maximize the greatness within us, we need to overcome them and start to take action. It's always easier said than done, but it's certainly something to consider. Think about it. "Whether you think you can, or think you can't... you're right" - Henry Ford
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