What if?

So what if you woke up tomorrow morning and the only things you were left with were the things that you said thank you for today? Scary thought, honestly. Personally, I would have very little. On most days I wouldn't even have my eye sight or my ability to walk. I wouldn't have the clothes that I do, the house that I live in, or the ability to choose what I want to do with my life and be able to pursue that through the support of my family. The list is seemingly endless. Now, I'm not saying that we should all just sit there and think of every single tiny little thing that we can. However it does make one stop and think for a little bit about how many things there are to be truly thankful for that many may take for granted. In my personal opinion, life is way too short to take anything for granted. Most of the time when we go out to eat or lay down to sleep in a warm bed during the winter we are just not cognizant of how much of a blessing that is. Imagine waking up the next day to find that you don't have anywhere to sleep anymore. I am not trying to sound self-righteous or that I am lecturing anyone by writing this because I can tell you with full certainty that I wouldn't have much left at all if the above statement were to occur. But thinking about this sure helps me to realize the small things in life that would otherwise go unnoticed. Just something to think about.

“Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.”

This quotation is quite motivational, as well as it is true. It is said that the people who are successful are not the ones that are the smartest or the most talented, but the people that work the hardest.

A great example of this is musical theatre. You may be a very talented singer and a naturally gifted dancer, but the people that continue to find work are the ones that constantly strive to do better and take lessons to improve on the skills that they already have. Many people take their gifts and talents for granted and do not strive for perfection (which, in my opinion, can never truly be obtained but it is not a bad standard for one to set for themself).

Another great example of this is none other than Thomas Edison himself (who originated this quotation). He was very hard working and never accepted failure as an excuse or an answer. While attempting to create the light bulb, he tried and was unsuccessful about 1,000 times. When people would ask him about it he would say, “I have not failed. I've just found 1,000 ways that won't work.” It’s not about ideas. It is about making ideas happen.

On a personal level, this quote (“Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration”) is inspiring and motivational. It also explains why Thomas Edison has experienced success and why many others that follow this principal life style experience it as well. All-in-all, it leads me to believe that the general consensus for why people are so successful has nothing to do with people that happen to be lucky or incredibly talented, but because they work hard every day at what they are passionate about.

Big dreams and dreaming big.

Think about it...

For me, there is a difference. My interpretation is that a "big dream" is something sizable, yet definable or limited. However, "dreaming big" is something indefinite or limitless. In short, when someone says that you have a "big dream", the definition of "big" is limited to the interpretation of that single person (however big it may be to you personally). On the other hand, when someone says that you are "dreaming big", the dreaming is considered limitless and doesn't have a borderline.



"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." - Christopher Reeve

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

"Dreams don't chase themselves." -Anonymous

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

(Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

Something I wrote a while back. For all the performers out there. ;)

Recently, while at rehearsal, I was watching my friends perform and I began to ask myself, ‘Why do we do this? Why do we constantly put on these masks that make us different people and show it to society?’ To be honest, this seems a rather cliché question on the surface. People are constantly asking why the performing arts matter and what makes them so important and enticing. However, when you dive further into it and ponder the question for even a moment, you realize that the answer is far more complicated than it seems like it would be.

          I suppose that on a more individual level (as far as performers go), one could begin by saying it is a way of “getting yourself out there”, building charisma and creating relationships (onstage and off). Or perhaps it is just the adrenolytic feeling that is created when you step in front of other people, waiting to be praised, judged, etc. In my experience, every person has their own reason for partaking in what I think is one of the most mysterious and unpredictable forms of entertainment. But that still leaves the question to be answered. 

          Due to the difference in opinion from person to person, it is very difficult to determine the general verdict on why performing arts are so important and why they matter so much. However, Ben Vereen (a well-known Broadway veteran and performer) once said, “A society without culture is not a society at all. The arts are our culture.” Culture is a very important part of the world and I believe that everything stated in the previous quotation is true. Cultures all over the world are defined and well-known- not just for the religions and languages they practice, but also the forms of art that they partake in (for example, in many Asian and African cultures, dance and theatre play a huge part in their religious practices as well as their main forms of entertainment). One would not tell another person that the way they dress to satisfy their culture is not important. But then, by the same token, would you say that performing is not important either, even though it is a huge part of many cultures (including our own)?

          All of these points are things to consider when asking the question, “Why do the performing arts matter?” Personally, I have not come up with a full explanation myself. However, I do believe that as long as the world still appreciates the performing arts and continues to explore this seemingly magical art form (and the culture that it brings to the world) then performing arts will continue to “matter”.

Saying one thing and doing another.

It is an amazing thing when our actions and words come into agreement. People watch what we do and listen to what we say everyday. They watch to see if we say one thing and do another. What are we showing them?

Are people who speak with actions rather than words afraid of what they might say? Do most people who let their actions speak louder than words usually not want to be outgoing enough to say what they feel or they know that if they do say, “I love you,” or say something kind, then there will be strings attached and they will be expected to prove it in some way..?

On the opposite side of the spectrum, do most people who let their words speak louder than actions not want to be accountable for their actions?

Most people end up doing one or the other and never do both. Which puzzles me. But then again (ironically enough) am I a hypocrite by saying that? Time for some self-evaluation. ;)

This made me laugh :)

If pro is the opposite of con than what is the opposite of "progress"?

                                      -and-

Why isn't the word "phonetic" spelled the way it sounds?

Vanity

So I was walking though Barnes and Nobles today (briefly, although I wish it was for a longer period of time) and something came to my mind. As I was looking through the magazines it occurred to me that 70% of what I was looking through was fake. I know many teen magazines say to "be yourself" and "don't let anyone tell you that you aren't beautiful" and so on... But what's ironic is that the media takes the pictures that they put in magazines and change eye color, skin complexion, and even bone structure and body shape. Hypocritical much? And while I can't say that I don't do things sometimes that are/can be considered vain, I try not to let it rule my life and make it's way up to the top of my priority list. So while the media might be saying of all the "right things" about keeping a good self-image and staying true to who you are, they aren't showing that through example. Actions speak much louder than words. In fact, celebrities are ridiculed for not wearing makeup out in public because they look "tired" and "old" and a lot of other words/phrases that I'm not going into. So what is that telling the world?

And as a side note - I can't speak from a guy's perspective.. But it seems to me that the opposite gender tends to be more attracted to girls that aren't caking on the makeup and constantly worrying about gossip and how they look.. Or at least the guys that will like the girl for who she is.

So I guess my over-all point is (and I know that hashtags are for twitter, but I'm breaking the rules)
#beYOUtiful