Community = Common + Unity.
We’re all different people, but we decide to come together. United by a shared set of principles and ideals. Which we continuously strive to uphold and achieve.
That striving together and looking out for one another.
No matter what.
Is what we have in common.
We are a community.
“There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
Confidence
Pride
Enthusiasm
Happiness
Generosity
Service
Passion
Excellence
What do all the above traits have in common?
They’re not if/then’s. Not something you someday get or earn. (“If I do this, then I’ll be confident.” “If I earn this much money, then I can be generous.”)
They’re all decisions you make to be.
How?…You just do. No matter what.
When?…Now.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.
Thus the Master is available to all people and doesn’t reject anyone. He is ready to use all situations and doesn’t waste anything. This is called embodying the light. – “Tao Te Ching” by Lao-Tzu, Stephen Mitchell translation
For all that happens to you.
For all that you do.
For all that you take in and consume.
Ask yourself this question…
“How can I use this?”
How can I use this to help others. My family, my friends, the world.
How can I use this in my art or my business or my hobby?
How can I use this to make me a better human being?
That’s one of the many great things about working on a passion project. It orders and prioritizes everything for you. You now have your meaning and purpose. Including and especially when you go through tough times. (For example, an actor is told to “bring their day in with them” as fuel for the character they’re playing.)
Go make meaning by making your art.
“You are both stars, don’t forget. When the stars exploded billions of years ago, they formed everything that is this world. The moon, the trees, everything we know is stardust. So don’t forget. You are stardust.” -The Rose Peddler’s advice to Jesse & Celine in Before Sunrise
For the actor…
You are in everyone and everyone is in you.
That means you can play EVERY part.
To do so, just dial up the stardust particles that most align with the character. Dial down the others.
P.S. – This scene. So good!
“If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.” -Mother Teresa
We’ll never solve the giant, messy, intractable problems by thinking, fearing, worrying and feeling overwhelmed.
Do nothing. Nothing happens.
Do something. ONE thing. One tiny, seemingly insignificant thing. Help one person. Make one change. Do it consistently, every day, rain or shine. Step back after a long enough period of time…and prepare to be amazed.
Feeling inspired and wanting to do one thing? Here’s two opportunities:
(1) Check out Weave.
(2) Check out The Carbon Almanac.
Go do your one thing.
When lonely days turn to lonely nights
You take a trip to the city lights
And take the long way home
Take the long way home -Supertramp “Take The Long Way Home”
“Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” -Jerzy Gregorek
“Sometimes it’s necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.” -Edward Albee, The Zoo Story
We all want it to be easy. And trying to find the most efficient and least taxing way to accomplish something makes perfect tense.
But there are times when harder makes it easier.
When going slow makes it faster.
And taking the long way ends up being the right way.
The social scientist and writer Arthur Brooks shares research stating there are three basic building blocks of happiness. They are:
Furthermore, happiness is 50% genetic, 25% circumstantial and 25% in your control.
Want a better life and to feel better about your life?
Change your habits.
Nothing else will do.
I got rhythm, I got music
I got my gal, who can ask for anything more? – “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin
For The Actor…
Character is rhythm. And rhythm makes character.
To find the character, find the rhythm.
How?
Two tips…
One…Say the words out loud hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times.
Two…Type out the entire script.
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” -Bill Gates
We overweight the obstacles and other people’s opinions, while at the same time we underweight our own capability.
As a result, many a passion project never gets started.
Yes it’s hard.
Yes it will take longer than you think.
Yes you will be pushed and challenged to your core.
But it’s all worth it and you can do it!
Go make your art.
P.S. – “Under Oveur, Oveur Dunn”
For the playwright…
You must have some kinda conflict on every page of your script. Or at the very least, in every beat.
When you get to the end of your first draft, break the play down into beats. If any of them don’t have conflict, they gotta go. Excise immediately. Call it character backstory and move on.
No one wants to watch two people “hang out”/”get to know each other” on stage. Not for very long anyway. Even if it’s super-charged, very fun, highly vulnerable, and remarkably intimate, the powder in the beat keg will run dry. Fast.
Conflict. Conflict. Conflict…And more conflict.
P.S. – If you’re acting in a play that has “hang out” beats, beware. It’s a huge trap. You gotta find a way to inject conflict. Even if it’s internal, that’s great. And it could be riveting.
The Vs. Studio Blog