i’m probably a facebook genius at this point. May 29, 2009

I just started reading Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell’s newest book.

You know how sometimes, things just pop up over and over and it feels like some sort of sign that it’s something you should pay attention to? I’ve been hearing people talk about this book a lot recently. It seems to randomly come up in conversation. He occasionally eats at the restaurant I work at. So finally, I say, I get it, Malcolm! I will read your book.

I’m on the second chapter. Highlights thus far…

Achievement is talent plus preparation. … The closer psychologists lok at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play.

and

What’s ten years? Well, it’s roughly how long it takes to put in ten thousand hours of hard practice. Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness.

This made me think of something I read in Think and Grow Rich:

For the average person, the greatest capacity to create is between 40 and 60. … The years between 40 and 50 are, as a rule, the most fruitful. One should approach this age not with fear and trembling, but with hope and eager anticipation.

Alright, 20- and 30-something buddies, we have plenty of time to become great at whatever it is we want to be great at.

But for everyone older than 50, don’t let those theories stop you. Another golden one from Julia Cameron:

Question: Do you know how old I’ll be by the time I learn to play the piano?
Answer: The same age you will be if you don’t.

reboot day May 28, 2009

So I have my first whole day off in what, 10 days, I think… No work, no shows, no rehearsals. I feel a little burnt out. I haven’t blogged much in a few days because I’ve felt so fried. I worked a whole bunch of daytime shifts at the restaurant over the past couple weeks (including three brunches in a row, thank you holiday weekend). They just knocked me off my patootie.

So I’m rebooting today, doing whatever I feel like doing! Happy Thursday.

Update: Laziness, Williamsburg thrift store shopping, yoga, wine & good food & a fun evening with a friend did the trick.

and also dis. May 23, 2009

Take one small daily action instead of indulging in the big questions. When we allow ourselves to wallow in the big questions, we fail to find the small answers. What we are talking about here is a concept of change grounded in respect—respect for where we are as well as where we wish to go. We are looking not to grand strokes of change—although they may come—but instead to the act of creatively husbanding all that is in the present: this job, this house, this relationship.

—The Artist’s Way, again.

and i like dis. May 23, 2009

We deny that in order to do something well we must first be willing to do it badly. Instead, we opt for setting our limits at the point where we feel assured of success. Living within these bounds, we may feel stifled, smothered, despairing, bored. But yes, we do feel safe. And safety is a very expensive illusion.

—The Artist’s Way

I love that book.

i like dis. May 23, 2009

Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor.

—Paul Hawken, via The Artist’s Way

how’d it get so hazy in here? May 21, 2009

You know what can make a person feel completely miniscule in the eye of the world? Waiting on one of the most successful and beautiful movie stars of our time. Today I waited on Julianne Moore. She is absolutely breathtaking in person. And she’s been in what, 1 million successful films? She is also one of the warmest and kindest celebrities I can imagine, continually smiling and thanking me for every last thing. But for a moment I thought about her success, and then I caught myself in the mirror in my work clothes, hair up, glasses on, and thought some really depressing thoughts. Who am I compared to her? I’m just a waitress. I’m not much of anyone, compared to her.

This is similar to my thoughts last night, as I was walking through Times Square. I was looking at all the people. And I thought—ALL of these people, from countries all around the world, know who Amy Poehler is. (Yes, here I go again with Amy Poehler). But I thought to myself, is that what success is? If all of these people knew who I was, would that equal success? Why can I not embrace where I am now as an artist—someone who gets to perform weekly, often several times a week in one of the greatest cities in the world? I can write and sing and create with some of the funniest people I’ve ever met. Do I need a paycheck to validate it? Will that be enough? What will, then? What validates an actor, a musician, any type of artist? Someone else saying “You are great. Here is money. Dance, monkey! Clap Clap Clap!”?

Sometimes I feel like I am on the brink of really getting somewhere—mentally, I mean. Really getting somewhere with my views of myself and the world around me. And then, in a moment, I lose it, and everything feels dark.

…

Well, cough cough cough through all this smoke.

On a complete other note, tonight I am playing with Rory’s band, the BTK band. I sat in on their rehearsal last night and jammed with them, and it was a total blast. Nothing like losing yourself in an artform just for the sake of fun. I’m hoping tonight will give me some rejuvenation.
(Side note…we didn’t get to “You belong to me.” That cover will have to happen another time.)

five foot nine blue eyes talented witty eats vegetables well-read likes Bob Dylan recycles May 18, 2009

As I’ve been doing lots of list-making, visualizing, and specifically setting goals for myself, one area that I am unsure how to plan for is love.

I have to admit my insides automatically go, “Ugh! Did you just write that?” “Seriously, are we talking about love on this blog now?” Well, yes, we are! Hush up, insides. Don’t you have some laundry to do or something? I do hope to eventually find the right guy. I’ve had my fair share of love and of heartache and plenty in the middle. Of course, I’ve learned a lot from each relationship. (But geez louise, lessons sure can be a pain in the ass to learn.)

A lot of my entries are about how we have power in creating the lives we want for ourselves. So, I want to feel good mentally and physically? Okay, go to yoga and eat the right food and drink in moderation. I want to get paying work as actor? Take some classes, send some mailings, do some showcases, audition my patootie off and it will happen. I can write very specific goals about where I want to be in five years, take the steps toward them, and I will achieve them.

Well, how do you bring in the right person? What are those steps? I was talking to my friend Joe at work. This conversation actually took place months ago, but it still sticks out in my mind. He has a wonderful boyfriend, Steve. They are two of the most handsome and kind guys you could ever meet. (I have, on occasion, professed my love to Joe, after a couple too many Manhattans. He gracefully never held it against me.) We talked about visualization a little. I was saying how I never really felt comfortable visualizing what I wanted in a boy. How am I supposed to know how tall I want a guy to be? Or his color hair? Or if he’s an artist or a businessman? How am I supposed to know which of those qualities really will matter?

Joe was like, “Well, maybe you shouldn’t visualize what you want him to be, just visualize how you want to feel with him.” That makes a lot more sense to me. That’s what’s really important. My friend Laura tells me how her relationship with her boyfriend Jeff really grounds her. So often my experiences with boys leaves me feeling a little nutty and less grounded. To actually feel more grounded while in a relationship? That’s pretty cool. If two people can strengthen each other—what a gift that is.

I think another important part of the whole love thing is just being happy with who you are. If you don’t love yourself, how will anyone else? Well, I’ve exploring happiness for some time, and I am happy to say that I am. Happy. With who I am. But still, from time to time, I can be a bit hard on myself. I was beating myself up a little this weekend, and talking to my friend Laura at work. She said, “Hey, be nice. That’s my friend Elizabeth you’re talking about.” Which reminds me of something that Graham has said in yoga class before: “How you treat yourself defines how the world will treat you.” I absolutely love that.

As an artist, I also have fears that if I have a boyfriend in my life, I will have less time to give to creating and that I will be less successful. Well, ya know what? In that book I’ve been reading, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill actually says that many of the most successful people in history were at the height of their success when they were in love. Think of Obama and Michelle. I remember watching Obama give his speech when he won the election, and Michelle was looking at him like, “You just wait til we get home, baby.” Their date nights actually make him a more effective President! How bout that. Love can actually fuel energy for creativity and success!

What do you want to visualize in another person? I think my top three may be groundedness… kindness… and happiness with self.

Show Plug. May 18, 2009

They say every comedian wants to be a musician and every musician wants to be a comedian. I’ve sort of been dying to be in a full four-piece band. But how many artistic projects can a person do? Lucky for me, I get to be a guest in my friend Rory (also know as Pembroke)’s band on Thursday night. I’m excited. I’m going to play flute, mandolin, and sing.

Here is the info. If you are free, come!

Thursday night, May 21
The BTK Band
The Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher Street
9:30 p.m. $5

Spoiler alert:
this song just might be covered…

i like dis. May 14, 2009

by Grace at GraceNMichelle

Sometimes you reach a point where your life feels so … strange … so confusing … so (adjective synonymous with “bad” … but I didn’t want to use “bad” because that felt too … negative) … you can hardly recognize it … and you hate it … but you have to remind yourself … you are choosing the choices … you are exsiting an exsistance … you are living a life … and that’s pretty great.

I like what she said about having to remind yourself that you are choosing the choices. Sometimes I get frustrated by feeling like I work all the time in one form or another. But I am choosing this life. I could easily have a completely different life in Tennessee. Or even a completely different one right here in New York! No one is forcing me to want what I want. I’m choosing my own choices, and creating my own existence.

30-days for $30 yoga intro special May 14, 2009

Move with Grace is a yoga & dance studio in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. They are offering an intro special for new students: 30 days of yoga for $30. Looks like this studio has a wide range of classes: vinyasa, hatha, iyengar, beginner yoga, and midnight yoga. Midnight yoga! That sounds fun!

Thanks to Stace for the link!