I started off last year jumping out of a plane, soon followed the launch of future music sensation, Verbal Disclosure with Logan Yuzna, then came auditions and call backs for a lead role in a film with Pierce Brosnon, only to finish in the runner up, then a trip to Hawaii, auditions for glee, more bar tending, holidays with the family, new head shots, acting classes and dance classes. It's been an amazing year.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
The 24th Year: The End
In a few days, I will complete another run around the sun, another 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days of waking up for another chance to get it all right. During our marathon around the sun, life introduces new issues or opportunities that we must learn to weather or integrate into this new life. Often, old lessons long forgotten are repackaged for our conscious mind to relearn. As long as we are making our journey around the sun, we will constantly be learning from new people, old friends, loved ones, our mistakes and all the things that we encounter; as long as we stay open minded and susceptible to learning then we are doing just fine.
Below I've compiled a list of 24 things that I've learned or relearned in this past year.
1. Help is a good thing. Although some people perceive asking for help as a weakness, it really is a strength. Acknowledging that you don't know exactly what you are doing and seeking help from someone with that experience makes a big difference. Though we may think we know everything, we don't and can't get through life alone without the help of others.
2. Just like people have helped you in the past, lend a helping hand to those that are need. If you get the cold shoulder, it's okay, just know that you did a good thing by offering your assistance.
3. You only get what you put in, if you aren't willing to put in the hard work then you can't expect any results.
4. Smile--a positive attitude makes difficult times more tolerable.
5. Believe in yourself, if you don't have any faith in yourself or your ability, you can't expect anyone to have more faith in you then you have for yourself.
6. Be honest and genuine with your intentions and motives.
7. Don't try to do everything all at once, you'll find more success by focusing on one thing at a time.
8. Never break your promises, it goes without saying, don't make promises that you can't keep.
9. Give credit when credit is due.
10. Drink water--it's your friend.
11. Leave your ego at the door! There's a fine line between arrogance and confidence, don't let the former drag your name through the mud.
12. Take responsibility for your actions.
13. Laugh at yourself, don't take everything seriously.
14. Leave the door open for second chances.
15. Don't make assumptions about anything, it only leads to unnecessary stress.
16. Exercise--your body needs love to.
17. Acknowledge the shades of gray--nothing is absolute, black or white, right or wrong.
18. Reconnect with old friends.
19. Don't let past misfortune jade your outlook on the world, negativity doesn't fit anyone well.
20. Remember to breathe when things get out of hand.
21. Make sure those that you love know how you feel about them. It's okay to tell your family, friends or your significant other that you love or how much you care about them.
22.In terms of career options, we often get caught up in what we should be doing because of other people's expectations but at the end of the day, all that matters is what we want to be doing. Follow your dreams because that's what will bring you the most fulfillment and leave you happiest.
23. Keep knocking on those doors that you want to open.
24. Try to keep an open mind, a beginners mind; embrace the excitement and enthusiasm as if you were experiencing things for the first time.
Again, it's been great writing this blog and I thank you all for reading.
All the best,
mauricio
Below I've compiled a list of 24 things that I've learned or relearned in this past year.
1. Help is a good thing. Although some people perceive asking for help as a weakness, it really is a strength. Acknowledging that you don't know exactly what you are doing and seeking help from someone with that experience makes a big difference. Though we may think we know everything, we don't and can't get through life alone without the help of others.
2. Just like people have helped you in the past, lend a helping hand to those that are need. If you get the cold shoulder, it's okay, just know that you did a good thing by offering your assistance.
3. You only get what you put in, if you aren't willing to put in the hard work then you can't expect any results.
4. Smile--a positive attitude makes difficult times more tolerable.
5. Believe in yourself, if you don't have any faith in yourself or your ability, you can't expect anyone to have more faith in you then you have for yourself.
6. Be honest and genuine with your intentions and motives.
7. Don't try to do everything all at once, you'll find more success by focusing on one thing at a time.
8. Never break your promises, it goes without saying, don't make promises that you can't keep.
9. Give credit when credit is due.
10. Drink water--it's your friend.
11. Leave your ego at the door! There's a fine line between arrogance and confidence, don't let the former drag your name through the mud.
12. Take responsibility for your actions.
13. Laugh at yourself, don't take everything seriously.
14. Leave the door open for second chances.
15. Don't make assumptions about anything, it only leads to unnecessary stress.
16. Exercise--your body needs love to.
17. Acknowledge the shades of gray--nothing is absolute, black or white, right or wrong.
18. Reconnect with old friends.
19. Don't let past misfortune jade your outlook on the world, negativity doesn't fit anyone well.
20. Remember to breathe when things get out of hand.
21. Make sure those that you love know how you feel about them. It's okay to tell your family, friends or your significant other that you love or how much you care about them.
22.In terms of career options, we often get caught up in what we should be doing because of other people's expectations but at the end of the day, all that matters is what we want to be doing. Follow your dreams because that's what will bring you the most fulfillment and leave you happiest.
23. Keep knocking on those doors that you want to open.
24. Try to keep an open mind, a beginners mind; embrace the excitement and enthusiasm as if you were experiencing things for the first time.
All the best,
mauricio
Thursday, March 31, 2011
One Year
In a few days it will be one year since I started this blog. I'm proud of myself, I set out with a goal to have one posting a week for one year and for the most part I have kept well to this promise. In a way I wanted to prove to myself that I still had enough focus to start something and continue until the end. The best part about it was that it was for me,I wasn't trying to get anyone's approval, I just wanted to write continuously again.
When I formulated the idea two years ago, I wasn't sure what I would write about or in what style I would write so I put it off for a year. I had thought for a long time and I remembered a professor at UCLA and his advice back when I was his student. "You shouldn't write what you know but write what you feel." I took a hybrid of both writing what you feel and what you know with a slight lean towards what we feel going through our daily lives and dealing with the existential angst that constantly begs to be answered.
I put these very private thoughts into my blog week in and week out and this became my very public therapy session that I allowed everyone to take part in. I figured if I'm going though certain things, I'm sure that I have some friends that can relate to trying to figure out what it is that we are meant to be doing.
In the whole process, I really laid out different aspects of what I felt and what I've learned this past year. It's exciting for me to see where I was and how far I've come. I don't know whether I'm past this early adulthood existential angst but I've learned a lot. Life isn't perfect and we don't have to have everything figured out, we just have to be excited to have the opportunity to wake up and try to make this day better than the last. At the end of the day if you still can laugh, cry and feel, rather than being completely indifferent about everything then you are golden. I guess it's being appreciative of everything- all the simple things. We shouldn't let the struggles we face take away that beginner's mind, fight to keep that fire in your eyes forever.
When I formulated the idea two years ago, I wasn't sure what I would write about or in what style I would write so I put it off for a year. I had thought for a long time and I remembered a professor at UCLA and his advice back when I was his student. "You shouldn't write what you know but write what you feel." I took a hybrid of both writing what you feel and what you know with a slight lean towards what we feel going through our daily lives and dealing with the existential angst that constantly begs to be answered.
I put these very private thoughts into my blog week in and week out and this became my very public therapy session that I allowed everyone to take part in. I figured if I'm going though certain things, I'm sure that I have some friends that can relate to trying to figure out what it is that we are meant to be doing.
In the whole process, I really laid out different aspects of what I felt and what I've learned this past year. It's exciting for me to see where I was and how far I've come. I don't know whether I'm past this early adulthood existential angst but I've learned a lot. Life isn't perfect and we don't have to have everything figured out, we just have to be excited to have the opportunity to wake up and try to make this day better than the last. At the end of the day if you still can laugh, cry and feel, rather than being completely indifferent about everything then you are golden. I guess it's being appreciative of everything- all the simple things. We shouldn't let the struggles we face take away that beginner's mind, fight to keep that fire in your eyes forever.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Absolutes
I've developed a bad habit of accepting outcomes of certain events as absolute; when the cards are dealt and they aren't in my favor then I accept it as fact, unchangeable facts. I guess as much as I want certain things in life, I seem to think that I am undeserving. I'm not exactly sure when that developed but it's definitely something I have to learn to deal with. After all, life's a challenge, I wasn't born to come up empty handed, so I'm learning to take life's challenges as they come and fight for what I want.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Last week
I fumbled through my wallet and searched through the different compartments of my car looking for extra change, luckily I found just enough for one hour at the parking meter. With my head shot and resume in hand, I walked across to the Los Angeles Center Studios. Following the signs outside of the parking entrance, I walked the parameter of the studio lot attempting to adhere to the various signs prohibiting pedestrians from entering through the parking lot drive way. After a fifteen minute walk and still no luck in finding the entrance, I convinced myself that instead of being late for my audition I would park in the parking structure regardless of the cost.
After finding parking in the studio, I reached the casting waiting area and watched the handful of actors and their rituals of rehearsing their lines before being called in. I decided to sit on the floor outside of the small waiting room and did a once over with my lines. I finally stopped looking over the script and let go of the butterflies that had nestled comfortably inside my stomach. After some time, my name was called and my heart started racing, all I could do was take a deep breath and lay all my cards on the table.
After finishing up with my audition, I went to work and then a few hours left for another audition, it was tiring but exhilarating. I think with all things you like to do, you have to put yourself out there and hope that someone believes enough in you to take a chance.
As I returned home after my last audition, I parked my car and walked back to my apartment and I was smiling from ear to ear. I was happy because I could feel the ticking underneath my rib cage. In this short walk to my apartment I thought of how I've made my calculations in the past of where I should be at any given time of my life and how wasteful and harmful it can be to plan out every single detail. In the process of planning, there may have been a great opportunity that was possible to take part in but was missed because of the narrow leeway I gave myself. If the opportunity is there go for it, no need it holding back. Having the opportunity to do something that you want to do and actually going after it makes for a life well lived.
After finding parking in the studio, I reached the casting waiting area and watched the handful of actors and their rituals of rehearsing their lines before being called in. I decided to sit on the floor outside of the small waiting room and did a once over with my lines. I finally stopped looking over the script and let go of the butterflies that had nestled comfortably inside my stomach. After some time, my name was called and my heart started racing, all I could do was take a deep breath and lay all my cards on the table.
After finishing up with my audition, I went to work and then a few hours left for another audition, it was tiring but exhilarating. I think with all things you like to do, you have to put yourself out there and hope that someone believes enough in you to take a chance.
As I returned home after my last audition, I parked my car and walked back to my apartment and I was smiling from ear to ear. I was happy because I could feel the ticking underneath my rib cage. In this short walk to my apartment I thought of how I've made my calculations in the past of where I should be at any given time of my life and how wasteful and harmful it can be to plan out every single detail. In the process of planning, there may have been a great opportunity that was possible to take part in but was missed because of the narrow leeway I gave myself. If the opportunity is there go for it, no need it holding back. Having the opportunity to do something that you want to do and actually going after it makes for a life well lived.
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