Maybe there's another option.
By Geoffrey Kidwell (actor)
The other day (And, of course, by “the other day” I mean like four months ago), I was watching Morning Joe on MSNBC.
Do you know that show? It’s hosted by this guy Joe Scarborough – a conservative with whom I (GASP!!!) often agree – and Mika Brzezinski, whose job seems to be giving Mr. Scarborgouh serious side-eye all while thinking to herself, “Oh, you! You’re just so silly.”
See! She's always VERY annoyed.
Great.
Anyway, so I’m watching the show and they trot out one of my favorite writers, Augusten Burroughs.
Here he is:
He’s there to promote a book but somehow the conversation turns towards dreams.
Not like the yesterday I went skinny dipping in a pool of unhardened Jell-O with Ryan Kwanten kind of dreams.
No sir.
More like the when I grow up I’m gonna be a singer like Joan Baez kind.
You with me?
Apparently, Burroughs spent his childhood dreaming that he would one day be a great actor.
Sound familiar?
At some point early on in the pursuit of this dream, he realized that he was a pretty bad actor. In fact, he sucked.
Like he was giving you Britney Spears in Crossroads. Or better yet, Paris Hilton as Lady Macbeth.
And so he thought to himself, “Wow. I suck. Hm…what to do? I’ve always dreamt of being an actor.”
And then…A REVELATION!!!
It seems he discovered that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Wait…what? That’s gross.
Um…let me try again.
It seems he discovered that there is more than one way to change a diaper.
No…
Fuck it.
He figured out that he didn’t have to be an actor to feel connected to people.
He didn’t give up on a dream. He just found a new path toward it.
Does that make any sense?
To be clear, I’m not advocating ditching your dream of being an actor because you haven’t performed on Broadway or because STEPHEN OREMUS DOESN’T EVEN KNOW YOU EXIST.
(Oh, hey there, Mr. Subconscious. Didn’t know you’d be speaking up today.)
What I am advocating is taking a good look at your dream – or, more specifically, the road you're taking toward it – and figuring out whether or not there is a different path you can take.
If there isn’t, then forge ahead. Don’t let anybody stop you. Go. Go. Go.
But if you take a look at the map and find another route that you’re curious about, why not give it a shot?
Don’t let your dreams get in the way of your success.
AND NOW...THE WEEK IN WHITNEY HOUSTON!!!!
Here's Miss Houston doing a medley of her all time hits. She's looking fabulous. The voice is a bit cracked out (no pun intended) but I love it. Enjoy!
GEOFFREY KIDWELL Geoffrey is an actor/manny in NYC. He spends his days just trying to figure it out.
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