'Til you Find Your Dream

Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with people, especially women, who had found their purpose in life. Remember that scene from “The Sound of Music” where the Reverend Mother tells Maria that she must go back to find how God would have her “spend her love”?

Ahhhhh! I just loved that. She did of course, and we all know how that worked out for her. She married the Captain, spared the family the terrors of the oncoming war by escaping on foot across the Alps to Switzerland, and then brought the whole clan to America where they were to begin their new lives.

How did she know? Well, I am sure being a nun didn’t hurt. She already had that connection to God thing going.
Being young and all, she didn’t really trust her inner guidance at first, but then she had the Reverend Mother to set her straight and get her going on the right path.

I believe we all have a purpose for our lives. For some of us, there may be a few of them. To find it we must do some serious listening, to our hearts, our souls, our inner guidance. Some of us find it early in life, some later. The important thing is to hone in on what makes our heart sing.
It’s that particular thing that, left undone, makes us antsy, uncomfortable, incomplete. There will always be signposts along the way to the discovery of our purpose, that, when acknowledged, will lead us closer to finding “it”.

And, if we don’t listen to that voice and move closer toward our reason for being here, our lives can be turned upside down in a skinny minute. But when we get back on the path, things will start to happen to lead us right back in the direction we need to head. Take, for example, the homeless man, Ted Williams, who obviously has the gift of a beautiful voice to share with the world. Homeless and destitute, addicted to drugs and alcohol, his purpose was buried for a while and he lost almost everything that was important to him in life. When he was finally able to get clean, he was given another chance to share his gift with the world. While panhandling on the streets, a producer video-taped Ted saying a few lines from his days in radio and his whole life was changed in that moment. He received offers for work as a voice talent from everywhere. Now it’s up to him to use his gift and live his purpose.

For most of us, things don’t have to get that dramatic. We can simply steer ourselves in the direction of our purpose by using our internal GPS. Even if we don’t get loud and repetitive verbal directional signals telling us to turn right or make a U turn, we can be assured that we will always be moving toward our purpose when we feel that sense of peace that comes from the sweet spot of being right in the right place, with the right people, at just the right time. Although it may have frightened her, Maria moved in the direction of her purpose and created a life for herself and her family, the impact of which has inspired so many of us.
So, (MUSIC UNDER) go out there and climb every doggone mountain and follow every rainbow ‘til you find YOUR dream!

Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee! Finding and Following your Bliss!

As I write this, my 22 year old daughter is performing the role of Rizzo in the musical "Grease" in Istanbul, Turkey. Why is this significant? Well, it is just another (almost) miraculous syncronicity that I have come to expect in my life. My daughter is an amazing young woman. From early in her life, she knew what she wanted and was determined to get it. A lead role in "The Secret Garden" propelled her to leads in high school, local theatre and then in college where she majored in Musical Theatre. She has never wavered from her intention and passion and it has paid off. I, on the other hand, have espoused the "put it out there and let's see what comes back" approach to following my bliss. At 17, after performing in the high school version of the play, I auditioned for the movie "Grease" and won a part in the blockbuster starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. As exciting as that was, after returning to the East Coast just in time for college, I turned down opportunities that sprang from my Hollywood experience to begin my freshman year. Somehow I think my daughter would have chosen differently as her plans for herself were much more set in stone.

So what do we learn about following your bliss from these two very different approaches? If you are sure, as was my daughter, of your true passion in life, then let nothing stand in yur way. Your tenacity will ensure that doors open for you where appropriate. For you, signs along the way will be fun to notice, but rather redundant. If you are more like me, which I believe most of us are, and are finding your bliss as you go along, then you will have to be open and looking for those doors, signs and opportunities as they appear. Do they make your heart sing? Then grab em! Can you see yourself there? Then go! Do they appear over and over in your life? Take the hint.
In the end, I am an actress and so is my daughter. Sure it took me longer, but it has most certainly been worth it!