I gradually (and unofficially, I guess?) came to the conclusion a while back that I didn't want to pursue performing full-time. For a while, I was staying in Rochester because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be. That isn't really the case anymore. The weird thing is, it doesn't feel like I'm giving up a dream.
(Maybe because I've made new ones?) Being on Broadway or making a living as a working actress might have been what I really wanted for a while, but as I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser), my priorities have changed. I don't want to live in New York City. I don't want to work a survival job I hate in food service or at a temp agency just so I can go to auditions and face constant scrutiny and rejection. For a lot of people, the pay-off is well worth it; it just isn't for me, and
that's okay. I'll always love theatre and performing and still consider myself to be a highly creative artist who's capable of doing really great work. I put my degree to good use every day, and I've never once felt a twinge of regret for going down that path. I still agree to do only paid projects with peers who take their craft seriously. But now, I control how involved I am in the theatre world and am able to have a life outside of it. And I've found that that's a lot more personally fulfilling for me. I really admire my friends who are still pounding the pavement and are finding success in the professional world. I may be a little wistful for my youthful optimism, but I think my attitude towards my own path (i.e., not comparing it to anyone else's) is a lot healthier now than it used to be. The bottom line is that I'm happy with how things are going, even if they're totally different from how I envisioned them playing out.
That being said, I am – and always will be – a performer. So when I saw this stage curtain print skirt by Retrospec'd go on sale at
A Classic Paradise, I finally took the bait and made it mine. I love the fact that you might not notice what the print actually is at first, and then when you take a closer look, the detail is really extraordinary. It reminds me of book illustrations I used to love as a kid, actually. So I suppose this skirt may be all about nostalgia and magic for me. What could be better than that?
Outfit Details
Deadly Dames Jailbird Top: Pinup Girl Clothing
Have you ever been through anything similar? Is your life drastically different from what you thought it'd be? It always helps me to know I'm not the only one!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
