To Read this series from the start, please visit this #31 Days Link after you have read this essay.
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One of the most important building blocks to living a passionate life is CHOOSING to live a passionate life.
Please don't role your eyes and leave. Yes, this may seem elemental.
If you can train your heart and mind to remember passion is often a choice followed by action, your life will change dramatically. I just went through this today.
My sixteen-year-old daughter and I often have some of our most important and also most laserlike discussions in the early morning when we drive to school. I have to admit, when she starts to drive and I no longer provide transportation, I will miss these talks.
Today she was talking about her challenges with the play she is in, or more succinctly, some of the way the production is being managed. She said she was distracted, annoyed and bothered by the whole thing.
I try to steer away from giving her advice, since I am also an actor and director and I never want to step on anyone's toes. I thought I could give her some general advice on making choices that steer her back into the direction of passion.
"Well, can you focus on what you are doing so their whispers will disappear?"
"If you can't ignore them, can you imagine them whispering in their underwear? That should be a fun fix."
I moved to agreement and understanding, so I wouldn't just seem like a hollow advice giver. I needed her to trust I believed her, believed IN her, and felt her pain.
"You know what bothers me as an actor? When I am working my heart out on the stage and the director is whispering to the stage manager about the Jets game the night before."
As a director, I also know sometimes you are talking tech stuff with the technicians and stage crew and the conversation with them are absolutely necessary.
"And are you sure to kiss your Director's butt when you aren't frustrated?"
On the other actors not being up to speed, I said, "Well, how can you make a character choice that will allow you to rock the scene even if your scene partner isn't 100%? What is your character thinking or feeling and how might her perspective be deluded because of her attachment to her scene partner.
The stage, like life, is all about the intentional - and not so intentional - choices we make.
Emma could choose to be annoyed or she could choose to step into her passion and nail each and every scene with her focus, her intention and the way she weaves her character into the rest of the production.
Take some quiet time to reflect on the places in life you are choosing to whine and complain rather than be intentional with your attitude. How will you choose differently to reflect your passion for life itself? Not passion for a particular hobby or sports team or even your vocation, but passion simply because you are alive?
Intentionally make that choice instead today and watch how your life changes in a more purposeful, passionate direction.
Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist. Her word-love themed art will be for sale at First Friday each month in Downtown Bakersfield. Check out the links below to follow her on a bunch of different social media channels, especially if you find the idea of a Word-Love Party bus particularly enticing.
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