Looking Back – February thru August
It’s the first day of a new month and it seemed an appropriate time to look back on this process as it’s unfolded so far. If I recall correctly, I first began working with the concepts in David Allen’s Getting Things Done back in January. I started clearing away the clutter in my apartment on January 31st. I made my first post here back in mid-April. I want to take a moment to assess the things I currently have out there. A kind of status report.
- New Bed Purchase – I didn’t meet my goal of a new bed purchase by September 1st. I’ve acquired 34% of my total. I knew that this was not going to happen simply by collecting change. (The $20 mattress pad that I picked up eliminated some of the initial urgency that I had about this project. Not a bad thing.. I am sleeping better in the short term, I think…) I am still committed to purchasing a new bed. I will continue to put change and surprise funds away for this project, while focusing on creating new income streams. I’ll move the target date back to December 31st.
- Monologue – I’ve not worked on my monologue since making my initial post, nor have I found another monologue. This goal suffers abit from a lack of a clear and present reason for doing it. I have no auditions coming up. I know intellectually that I should prepare for the theoretical agent audition that I hope to have and the theoretical play audition that I hope to be called for from submitting my headshots, but still I’ve done nothing. Probably a mixture of fear of starting and not enough pressing need. I’ve put it out into the universe. I must have faith that it will evolve in its own time. I’ll take the action when I’m ready to take the action.
- Singing – More progress in this area. I’ve been singing pretty consistently since starting up my lessons again with A.A. I’d trace this back to my post about fear back on the 12th. I’m singing better because of the consistency of my practice. Duh! : )
- Consistent Sleep Schedule / Minimum Amount – Also progress in this area. Since my initial cry of desperation I’ve adopted a pretty successful routine. Initially I committed myself to 7 a.m. wake ups or earlier. Even if I was up late that night I’d stick to the 7 a.m. wake up. Green dot followed green dot. Being wrecked from lack of sleep got old pretty quick, so I started committing to going to bed 7 hours before my 7 a.m. wake up call. I’ve been able to move the bed time / wake up time forward as necessary (2 a.m. bed – 9 a.m. up) as needed. So far so good with this one, but I need to be vigilant. This is a bad habit that I know is easy to slip back into.
- Agent – No agent yet. I think I’m waiting to get the new headshots back before doing a large mailing. The idea as it stands now is: 1.) Headshots retouched 2.)Headshots reproduced, 3.)Headshots mailed to agents with professional looking letter 4.)Hope I get a response and several interviews 5.)Interview successfully 5.)Agent takes me on 6.)I am submitted for really cool projects 7.)I get work. I know that this might seem like wishful thinking but it’s what I have right now.
- Dance Class – This is a relatively new “putting it out there”. I went to class last week. It was cool, but not ideal. I always feel clumsy as hell in these things and on the verge of tweaking a muscle. The class that I took was way the hell down near Canal street. Not ideal at all. Maybe I should start with beginning ballet from that teacher who teaches the floor barre class. At least with ballet I may feel clumsy but don’t feel like I’m going to hurt myself. The problem is that you don’t do the moving across the floor work as much in ballet. I’ll figure out something.
- Income: Immediate / Specific Amount – I have an idea of my “specific amount”. I’ll probably be posting on that in the coming days. On the “immediate” front, I did receive a couple of overdue checks which was helpful. Hopefully the clarity of a specific amount will help this area.
- Fiber/TV/Cooking Challenges – See my update here. Good stuff to report.
- The Book – I’ve got a little over two weeks to make something happen before school starts. I intend to freakin’ do this.
- Acting ‘As If’ – I’m not certain how I’m doing with this. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the “stuff” of ones week. So easy to get overwhelmed and swamped. To feel like you’re not moving forward. I’d like to think I’m doing better. The house may be a trashed today, but it’s not as trashed as it could be or has been in the past. Yes there is a raging forest fire in my sink but that’s because I’ve begun cooking again. No surprise there. Just need to not let that sink hot spot get going. (One or two glasses is enough…). I’m assessing the process. I’m looking forward. Just have to keep on keeping on, I guess. Act as if I know what the hell I’m doing.
So there you have it. My 7 month or so review. I think I’m better than I was when I started. I think I’m better prepared to start teaching in 3 weeks. Income will start to flow in again by the end of the month. I have the hope of new students and the challenge of old ones. I may be a bit bruised financially but it won’t kill me, I don’t think. Somehow I’ll get past this place and find my destiny. I refuse to let NYC kick my ass.