Convenor: Paula D'Alessandris
Participants: Emily Davis, Emily Hartford, Jennifer Wilcox, Sean Williams, Edward Elefterion, Jessica Hooks
Are our ambitions keeping us from enjoying the journey and if so, how can we overcome the resentment of not being where we think we "should" be?
Some people in the group have come to accept where they are and realize how valuable their work is on any level and some in the group are still struggling with the "I'm not where I'm supposed to be and am angry about that" problem.
Is this a problem that will eventually just go away as we grow as artists; as our life priorities change (addition of family and other pursuits); or is it something we have to actively work on releasing? How do we do that?
So many people "drop off" and out of the theatre circuit at certain points in their life. How do they/we not look at that as failure but as a life choice.
It was suggested that the paradigm will not shift - we may always HAVE to have the dreaded "day job", we may NOT get paid a living wage and that we should try to enjoy where we are without resentment.
Perhaps having the day job is a good outlet FOR the resentment. if you were only doing your art that might eventually become "the job" and then you'd grow to resent that. Maybe day jobs are a blessing in disguise. Your art is therefore never your (in the bad sense) "work". so you can do it longer without burning out.
It was suggested that we should focus on our whole body of work. and see that for the success it is - whether we're being paid to do it or not. View it as a pyramid and see everything we've built and appreciate that. Someone who has success right away is like an arrow shooting straight up. there is no real foundation. Nothing solid beneath that pinnacle.
Perhaps there is never an end goal. As we reach one goal "we move the goal posts farther away" so we are never really satisfied anyway.
Would love more discussion and suggestions on how to deal with "where you are right now" issue.
Suggested Resources:
* Feldenkrais method as a tool for "slowing down and removing the effort"
* read: Creating a Life Worth Living
Participants: Emily Davis, Emily Hartford, Jennifer Wilcox, Sean Williams, Edward Elefterion, Jessica Hooks
Are our ambitions keeping us from enjoying the journey and if so, how can we overcome the resentment of not being where we think we "should" be?
Some people in the group have come to accept where they are and realize how valuable their work is on any level and some in the group are still struggling with the "I'm not where I'm supposed to be and am angry about that" problem.
Is this a problem that will eventually just go away as we grow as artists; as our life priorities change (addition of family and other pursuits); or is it something we have to actively work on releasing? How do we do that?
So many people "drop off" and out of the theatre circuit at certain points in their life. How do they/we not look at that as failure but as a life choice.
It was suggested that the paradigm will not shift - we may always HAVE to have the dreaded "day job", we may NOT get paid a living wage and that we should try to enjoy where we are without resentment.
Perhaps having the day job is a good outlet FOR the resentment. if you were only doing your art that might eventually become "the job" and then you'd grow to resent that. Maybe day jobs are a blessing in disguise. Your art is therefore never your (in the bad sense) "work". so you can do it longer without burning out.
It was suggested that we should focus on our whole body of work. and see that for the success it is - whether we're being paid to do it or not. View it as a pyramid and see everything we've built and appreciate that. Someone who has success right away is like an arrow shooting straight up. there is no real foundation. Nothing solid beneath that pinnacle.
Perhaps there is never an end goal. As we reach one goal "we move the goal posts farther away" so we are never really satisfied anyway.
Would love more discussion and suggestions on how to deal with "where you are right now" issue.
Suggested Resources:
* Feldenkrais method as a tool for "slowing down and removing the effort"
* read: Creating a Life Worth Living
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