Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sometimes you just need to go home

Life in California can be crazy and hectic. Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard you work towards your goals, you don't seem to make any gains. When this happens it can be very difficult to remain positive. These are the moments when it may be best to just get away, separating yourself from that hustle and bustle to rejuvenate your mind and body. Sometimes, you just need to go home.

To say that this last three month period at my job was a little busy, would be an understatement. Please understand, I am not complaining, my pocket book really enjoyed the extra hours; however, it didn't leave a lot of time for other activities, hobbies, auditions or further development for my blog.

Being so new to my professional career as a Sign Language Interpreter finding additional jobs anywhere let alone in an area I would love to live, is a difficult thing. Granted I could continue to work in Orange County, but commute from the LA area; however, lack of money and a fear of failure and the unknown are very daunting obstacles to overcome.

Up until recently I have felt like my life was remaining pretty stagnant. Sure, I had just begun Interpreting and was doing well at it; however after being denied a promotion/raise, I felt I wasn’t doing as well I should have been doing.

All the time and energy I was using thinking about work was time away from other writing and acting projects. It has honestly been a long time since I have been on a film set, that fact is pretty worrisome. Also frustrating was starting new writing projects with Caleb and Michael and not being able to finish them because their schedule suddenly gets busy. I’m not saying my frustration is with them or that they are somehow responsible for the state of my acting career. I guess my frustration stems from my conflicted feelings in that I am so happy and proud of them for getting amazing work, yet at the same time I can’t help but feel a little jealous.

All of these feelings and stress have caused me to wonder if I needed to give up on one career in order to succeed in another. I also was feeling like my “love relationship” with life in California was turning somewhat sour, and I began looking into Interpreting work in multiple different states.

These reasons and more are the reason I decided to spend over a month staying in Tucson Arizona with my Mother and her friend. So far being away from California and the Hollywood machine seems to have been really good for me in gaining a different perspective.

Just because I didn’t get my promotion last year doesn’t mean I can’t get one this year, and certainly doesn’t mean that I am not doing the things I need to be doing in order to qualify for a promotion. Just because I have had an extended absence from a film set, doesn’t mean I will never be on one again. Just because my friends are busy, doesn’t mean I can write a script or outline myself, and it definitely doesn’t mean that a script will never be finished.

If anything these things that may have seemed like insurmountable obstacles were things that have been benefiting me. In fact concentrating more on my interpreting career and further developing those skills now will, in the long run, benefit my acting career in multiple ways. Better skills equals more pay, more pay equals more saving, more savings equals decreased financial worries, which MAY equal more time to concentrate on acting and writing. This may seem a little far fetched; however, this thought process has been the refreshing change of perspective, or should I say reminder, that I have been looking for.

If life is throwing obstacles in your path, sometimes you need to take one step back in order to take multiple forward. While my stay in Arizona is not over yet, I will be flying home next week, I do feel like my step back has rejuvenated my mind and body preparing me to jump right back into life in California and everything it has to throw at me. Absence can make the heart grow fonder.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't be discouraged Daniel. You will meet all of your goals, I'm sure of it. Sometimes we have to learn from the set-backs and move on. Believe me, I know.. From Oct through December I was in the process of being interviewed to run Sorenson's Burbank call center. I met with regional managers and they even flew me to Utah to meet the vice president. After all was said and done, It came down to just me and 1 other person. The other person got the job. Obviously this was my dream job and something I'm COMPLETELY qualified for, however I know this set-back just means something bigger is waiting for me.
You're super young, you have all the time in the world to complete your goals. You have the enthusiasm and personality to make it happen.

Hollywood Nobody said...

Thanks Jeff. That sucks about not getting that job with Sorenson. That would have been such a perfect fit for you, but like you said something definitely bigger and better is on it's way for you!

Hopefully see you again soon!

Me said...

Danny, I have all my faith in you. If you have been as successful as you have thus far, you will only be more successful in the future. Your blog is beautifully written and you are such a goal-driven individual. You WILL succeed my friend :)

Me said...

Danny, I have all my faith in you. If you have been as successful as you have thus far, you will only be more successful in the future. Your blog is beautifully written and you are such a goal-driven individual. You WILL succeed my friend :)