Our purpose is to realize our potential. Each of us has been created for a purpose, a
reason, but if we don't know what it is or what we want, or untapped potential
stands idle.
Peter McWilliams
THE PORTABLE LIFE
I’ve been going to a local video
store for twenty years. While Netflix is
a great provider and my friends think I’m nuts not to subscribe, I’m
loyal. I like going to the store,
checking out the DVD covers, talking with the clerks about new releases and
occasionally getting into discussions with fellow customers. I like the “high touch” interpersonal feel to
it all.
Recently, I was browsing the new
release section when there was only one other customer in the store. He was a twenty-something guy who had an athletic
build––he carried himself off with the the air of a competitor.
He was in animated conversation
with the lone clerk, and as a typical nosey ex-New Yorker, I couldn’t help but
overhear. Seems he was taking acting
classes (so L.A.!) and he sounded enthused and proud when he said, “I’ve always
been good at everything I did” which made me wonder what he’s done in the past.
The guy left and shortly afterwards
I went over to the counter to check out.
I mentioned to the clerk that I wish I had the unbounded confidence of
the previous guy. He laughed and said
that guys like him were always too “cocky” for their own good.
I was puzzled and the clerk just
laughed harder. Turns out, the guy is an
adult film performer! He’s trying to
segue into legit acting.
Chalk it up to my twisted sense of
humor, but I like the idea of a porn actor taking pride in his work. I know, I know… but there is something
refreshing about being able to assess what you’ve done and declare that it’s good
work!
Realistically, his chances of
having a legit acting career are against him.
However, I don’t think he’ll give up easily because I suspect he’s
determined to continue to expand and explore his potential.
Any growth in your
life, like it or not, is going to build on who you are right now. We don't get
to start over. So you might as well
accept yourself as you are and go from there.
Peter McWilliams
Was this guy a smug, delusional
porn “star”? Maybe. But I’d like to think that he’s a guy who realizes
he doesn’t get to erase the past and he’s hell-bent on making the effort to
remember and build upon his successes.
Increasing your
self-esteem is easy. You simply do good things, and remember that you
did them.
Peter McWilliams
In his own way, that guy is trying
to do just this––do good work and then remember he did it. You might not approve of the work, but
doesn’t diminish the lesson.
And Netflix could never have given
me that lesson!
No comments:
Post a Comment