I recently received the latest newsletter of my former acting teacher in Los Angeles, Richard Lawson. In it, he writes the following (and also offers a few free open classes in March, so check them out in the link above!). I just thought the sentiment and consistent forward momentum in his words inspirational. It reminds me that we all do need to feed (ie. give sustenance) each other’s energies, to keep each other’s dreams in focus, no matter the obstacles…I need to remember to make sure my friends and loved ones are engaged and enthused with their passions, even as I strive to keep my own alive and, as Richard says, sustained in effort…
Sustained Effort
As I look back over the 40 years or so that I’ve been in show business, and I see the number of people who started out with me and are still in the business, which is shockingly very few by the way, there is one thing that I know for sure: They are still here because they sustained their efforts. They had follow-through; they didn’t quit because the going got rough or they got tired. Yes, they had disappointments. Yes, they had failures. Yes, they lost their way from time to time. And yes, they felt like giving up at times. But, they didn’t. They kept getting back up, dusting themselves off, and getting back into the game. They relied on their support systems, which they were smart enough to set up somewhere along the way, to help them get back on track. In the beginning, some mentor or teacher somewhere helped them understand that the journey was a rollercoaster and they had to ride the highs and lows with equal dexterity. That mentor or training taught them to keep their eyes on the prize and never lose sight of the bigger picture. The bigger picture was clear because they had written it down. It was a plan with their goals and purposes set in place. They understood that this plan helped them to stay on track when things were good, and to get back on track when things were not so good. Thus, no matter what, they were able to sustain their effort.
Cheers,
Sierra Rein
“I don’t sing because I’m happy, I’m happy because I sing” – William James