Last summer I read Rue McClanahan’s autobiography My First Five Husbands, and I was simply blown away at what life was like back then for actors. Yes, I understand there are still poor actors today, but I had never heard of such a hard worker! To me, she didn’t get her due credit until she was on Maude, and even then she wasn’t stable if they didn’t renew her contract. She worked herself into the ground, all while supporting a family, pursuing her dream and staying fit.
I read another celebrity autobiography belonging to Dick Van Dyke. He didn’t get his break until his late thirties! He was supporting his family on so little money, it amazed me they were able to survive! And he never lost faith, he kept pushing on! Once he got his break, he was so humble and thankful for it and continued that good work ethic even to present day (and he’s well into his 80’s).
These two stories have helped keep me humble. In today’s society of instant gratification and entitlement, it’s easy to lose sight of things and forget about the effort needed to achieve things. (Hmm, if only I had the dream of a perfect house, my efforts would be spent there!)
In one of the many screenwriting podcasts I listen to, the speaker was talking about apprenticing to the top. He gave plenty of examples of how to be a great [insert profession] you need to spend years working from the bottom up. In screenwriting (or any profession in the film industry) your best bet is to start from the bottom up. Become someone’s lowly assistant, make an impression and you’ll reap the benefits. So much notice is given to the naturally talented athletes who were “handed” their awesome job. What most people don’t realize is that their careers usually started when they were kids–going to ball practice, games, conditioning, college etc.
I’m at a point in my life where I feel I should be doing bigger and better things. Unfortunately, since I’ve just now started actively pursuing my writing dream, I’m afraid I’m at ground zero. It’s encouraging to hear these accounts of hard work and eventually getting your break. It really helps me stay on task and continue on the daily grind, knowing that my hard work is not wasted. I think I’ve finally found my bliss. I’m reaching for a career where I don’t care about the money, I just want to do it. I think that is the first step to achieving one’s bliss. Finding something that you love so much that it’s worth all sacrifice–that’s what the speaker was talking about.
To achieve my bliss I am willingly going to put my blood sweat and tears into this (I’m assuming that phrase applies to writers in the form of lots of papercuts) and all my efforts. I still have days (today even) where I get discouraged with my dead end, menial, “still making minimum wage at 25 years old” job, but I hear about all the success stories and how hard those people have worked and I quit my whining and count my blessings that I even have a job and a family who take care and support me. (Look up Nick Swardson’s story and how he lived in his car while pursuing comedy).
So here’s to the journey ahead! I’ll remember to enjoy the scenery, because the journey is sometimes better than the destination!
My life in letters 