Happy F%$@ing Birthday!

It’s my birthday week.  Woot!  Yup, I’m a total birthday whore, so if you want to send me good wishes, gifts, or red velvet cupcakes from Ladybird Bakery, do it.

I’m keeping this short and sweet because, seriously, it’s my birthday week AND 4th of July all in one, and this girl wants to rest up to celebrate properly.

When my birthday rolls around, I like to remind myself of how far I have come since last year.  I take inventory on all my accomplishments, experiences and successes. Then  I get clear about what I want to make happen in the next year.

This year is a little bit different.

In fact, these last 12 months have been, hands down, the hardest of my life.  Now I don’t want to get too much into why – I don’t really see this blog as a forum to work out my personal sh*t.  But I do see this blog as a place to find teachable moments in my life and the experience of my clients to empower actors to do what they really want to do.

So here’s my teachable moment stuff:

This year has been hard.  Like crazy hard.  And I could easily focus on everything that has gone wrong, was super painful, heartbreaking, pride deflating or hugely disappointing.

I could do that.

Or I could focus on all the amazing things I have learned and experienced because I went through a hard time.  Things that I may never have realized if my experiences were only sparkly unicorns and rainbows.

I think I’ll choose the latter.

So here goes…

I “knew” but don’t think I truly realized how much my family rocks.  I am so grateful and so lucky to have them.

I have incredible friends.  The number of true friends I can count is a small number.  But if you have a true friend in your life you know they are like gold.  I am lucky to have several.  This is a much a better measure of a life well-lived than success and money.

I have learned to ask for help.  Ok, I’m still wrapping my brain around this one.  But I’m getting better at it.  I’ve always been a very independent person.  To the point where I would rather suffer in misery than admit that I need help.  And to ask for it?  Humiliating!  Well, I’ve learned that asking for help is actually pretty great.  And accepting help is even better.  I am so grateful to realize that I can still be independent (independence day, get it?) but it doesn’t mean I have to be alone.

Obstacles in life often bring opportunities.  Most of us miss them because we’re so focused on the obstacle.  As I prepare to add another year to my age, I’m truly grateful that my eyes have been opened to the wonderful people I have the privilege of having in my life.  THANK YOU.  You know who you are.

I’m truly grateful to you, dear actor.  For showing up here, reading my stuff, taking action toward your dreams.  You inspire and motivate me to do better. Thank you!

Whatever is going on in your life and career, take some time to appreciate what you already have.  Even if things kind of suck (though hopefully they don’t), good things still come out of rough experiences, and I encourage you to flip your perspective to look for it.

I promise you will find more.  What you put energy into grows.

Like my stuff?  Be sure to get on the email list over there on the right to get more where that came from.

Leave a comment.  What good has come out of a tough time?  Is there a rough experience that you can now see was a blessing in disguise?  Share share share.

Photo by Misha Jenkins

 

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Tagged as: birthday, emily grace, Emily Grace Productions, gratitude, gratitude for what you have, independence day