"All The World's a Stage"

Today, I would like to discuss a topic that excites me to my core: theater. I'm not talking about a movie theater, but the aspect of live-acting theater. The stage, the set, the cast and the audience. That is the theater that I love.

I've been in acting for quite a while. Now, keep in mind, I am not anywhere near as good as I could be. But I like to think I am at least a halfway decent actress. I remember my first play in second grade; I was the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio at a public theater in my town. I wanted to be the fairy so bad, so that I could wear the blue dress and tiara, and when I realized I got the part, I was thrilled! Until opening day, that is.

The seats were filled with eager, proud parents and cameras. The stage was empty and the curtains drawn, but it wasn't long until the lights came up and I was on that stage, in front of all of those people. Stage-fright to the extreme, let me tell you.

And then the lights came up, and I was standing on the stage, and I wasn't afraid anymore. The lines came to me with the snap of a finger, and my confidence boosted each time someone in the audience laughed. I didn't have to be myself anymore, I could be someone, anyone else that I wanted to be. And it was always encouraging when people from the audience came up after the show to tell me I did a good job.

Ever since then, I've been involved in plays throughout my elementary, junior high, and high school career. I've been a stage manager, assistant director, worked backstage. But my favorite part always was and always will be being on the stage, in front of everyone, playing the part and having a good time. Acting was always my niche; it was what I did in the family. My sister did sports, my mom and dad worked, and I acted. I'd like to say I wasn't a pain in the butt sometimes with how dramatic I was at home, but that would be a lie.

Being in college now, I really miss it. I tried out for a play at the beginning of the year, but I didn't get the part. And quite honestly, I just don't have the time. I plan on being in at least one more play before I graduate, so wish me luck! If it's something I love enough, I will find a way. I encourage anyone who is even thinking about being involved in a theater production to do it; you won't regret it, and the friends you make there will last you a lifetime.

Lights. Camera. ACTION.

Explore, Dream, Discover!

Ok, ok, I know: it's been a while. I apologize for not writing, there is no excuse for my shameful behavior. And a big thank you to my friend, John, for reminding me that I still even have a blog! And thank you also for pointing out that I have been neglecting it for the past month. Well, almost a month.

So, for anyone else who reads my blog or cares (which probably isn's very many) I am sorry. Life got in the way of my writing. I kept making excuses not to post, like "finals are next week" or "it's christmas break!" or "I don't have any ideas". But that's just me being lazy and being the way I've been ever since I was born. I've always had trouble sticking with things, especially when the going gets rough.

I realize that there are no excuses, though, because I am working towards a larger goal. There is one thing I want to do in my life, one thing I have always wanted to do: write. I want to be an author, and write a book that will be loved by thousands. I am working on one right now, but that is a topic for another post.

Anyway, the only way that I can reach that ultimate goal of being an author is if I practice writing. Practice, practice, practice! And I can't make excuses. The only way anyone ever got good at anything is by working hard and never giving up; something many people seem to have forgotten these days. Oh geez, now I sound like an old person...

Basically, what I'm trying to say through these ramblings of mine, is that I am sorry I haven't written in so long, and I will try my hardest to post more often. I will try to stick to my goal, and work hard until I get there. And I will leave you all with the following message:

Never give up. Never stop trying. If you want it, go get it. Sure, it's a hell of a lot easier said than done, but imagine how great you will feel when you do accomplish your goals! I feel better just writing this post, because I know I am on my way. I know I can make it; I can be an author. All I have to do is try.

As one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain, once said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

You don't ever have to listen to me: I'm just a twerpy American teen. But I'd listen to my good pal Mark if I were you; he knows what he's talking about ;)

Now get along, it's Christmas! Spend time with your families, enjoy your loved ones, and God Bless Us, Every One!

Rough Day

You can't always control the future.

This is something I told myself just a little while ago that made me feel 100% better about how my last few days have been.

 To give you a short background, my grandfather just passed away a few days ago, right before finals week at school. I came home and am going through the process of the funeral and everything while at the same time trying not to fail my first ever college final exam. Then on top of that I have been having boy problems, which we aren't going to go into detail about. But basically, it has been a rough past week and I am getting stressed and overwhelmed more and more easily.

Bu then I stopped while sitting next to this fire at my home, looking at the lights on our perfectly-shaped Christmas tree, and a thought popped up into my head out of nowhere; "you can't always control the future. You can't control everything." And I pondered this and realized that it is absolutely true. I can't control everything that happens in my life. I couldn't control my grandpa passing. I can't control my feelings for someone. I can't control the timing of the situation.

There is something I can control, though.

I can always control my reactions. I can control how I respond to the situations I am given. I can either be grumpy and complain about it or I can take a deep breath and relax and take things as they are. Because things like this happen to everyone. I'm not the only person in the world that is having a bad week, I'm sure. And many people in the world have problems that dwarf mine.

So if you are like me and having a bad week or just feeling down and out of luck, know that I have been there before; we've all been there before. And remember:

You can't always control the future. But you can always control how you react to it.