Monday, August 30, 2010

Be Fearless and Soar

I usually try to keep my dreams within city limits. In other words, if it’s in or around L.A., I’m with it. Don’t count me in, if it’s not. Any thought of packing up and leaving my family and everything else I know and love in L.A. has always been ephemeral. I thought about moving to Kentucky once until that little voice inside reminded me that I’m a Cali girl. Kentucky couldn’t handle me. I thought about North Carolina for a spell, but those darn Confederate flags on the fronts of pick-up trucks really piss me off. Then there was Atlanta. I thought about Spelman, but opted for CSUN because it was near my mom and dad.

This past weekend, I met a guy who totally blew my mind. His name is Brian O’Connell and he’s been in Los Angeles for 10 years. He moved here from North Carolina to pursue his acting dreams. Brian is headlining shows in Hollywood, he is amazing on stage, and above all he is happy because he is living his dreams. He is fearless and confident—a combination that has made all the difference in the world. If he had been unable to dream outside of North Carolina, he would have blocked so many of his blessings. He might not have ever realized the true extent of his passion and his love for the stage.

He might be doing something in technology or maybe he would have been teaching (two VERY honorable careers…I’m not at all knocking them), but he wouldn’t have been on a stage in Hollywood every week doing what he LOVES. He might have been tracking storms or sitting behind a news desk (again two VERY honorable careers), but he wouldn’t have felt the sensation of standing on stage and hearing the applause of a satisfied audience after he rocked an improv performance…

This past weekend I learned so much from Brian. I learned that if I want success and fulfillment, I can’t be afraid to take a giant step outside of my comfort zone. It doesn’t necessarily have to mean packing up and moving 3,000 miles away. Sometimes it can simply mean joining a group that I wouldn’t ordinarily join, or setting up coffee meetings with people I admire. Sometimes it means starting a blog and forcing myself to write and post something new every week. Sometimes it means boldly telling the world who I am and what I have to offer. It definitely means doing what I love.  Today I challenge myself to be fearless and soar…

No. Today I choose to be fearless and soar.


(Check out Brian O'Connell at http://www.brianjamesoconnell.com/)

1 comment:

  1. I'm extremely humbled and flattered by your words.

    Thank you.

    BOC

    ReplyDelete