On February 28th, 2014, I moved out of my full time job and into a full time pursuit of my dream to be a performing artist. Over the last 15 years, I, like most artists, have juggled paycheck earning with career pursuit in multiple ways. At one point in time, I was working in a restaurant as a hostess (evenings), another restaurant as a server (morning/afternoons) and manning a desk in a residence club (4am-8am) for free room and board! Ummmm ..... NEVER. AGAIN. Most recently, however, I had been blessed with great financial stability while working as an executive assistant in a private equity firm. During this time of stability, I was able to regain my health, save money, take vacations, visit my family often and spend money fostering my talents and dream. It was a time of healing and growth for which I could never express my gratitude adequately. That said, I was missing one key ingredient: TIME.
I feel, and have always felt, as if I were standing with one foot on the shore and one in the boat, WILLING the boat to sail. Finally, thanks to my wonderful corporate job and the support of all my friends and family, I will be able to put both feet in the boat. I have slept 10 nights since my last day at work and have woken up 10 times feeling overwhelmingly grateful for this opportunity.
Over the next year, I plan to be blogging about my journey and would love for you all to be part of it. I wouldn’t be standing here without you and I won’t be able to do this without you, either. It might be fun for many of my friends and family near and far to learn more about what an artist experiences in this pursuit and what drives one to keep on keepin’ on. My drive stems from the belief in the power of the arts to make a difference. I also believe there is much I can learn from YOU and welcome your input.
To my fellow artists, I invite you to be part of this journey because there is so much for us to share in it: the fears and joys, the sheer comedy of it all, the complete and utter grief of it, the questions we are all asked, the answers we all give! Weigh in. What is your current juggle/balance in this pursuit?
We all have boats. Are you standing in yours?
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." William Hutchinson Murray from his 1951 book entitled The Scottish Himalayan
Up next in this blog series: Training a puppy: how my first week as a stay-at-home artist bore striking resemblance to training a puppy.