Outside looking in...The Actor's Studio
I enjoy watching Inside the Actor's Studio. If you're not familiar with this show, movie stars come on and are interviewed about their careers. Basically a life and times format. And though I enjoy the show, often I'm left feeling a little down.
It's not that the stars who come on are rich and famous, they are, but that they have such a passion about their lives and careers. Dustin Hoffman was on the other night and he expressed how even if he was just doing his acting in community theater, he'd still be doing it. How nice it must be to have such a calling.
Hoffman also attributed a quote to Picasso: "Picasso said if they take away my paints, I'll use water colors. If they take those away, I'll use pencils and if they take those away, I'll use crayons. And if they strip me naked and throw me into a cell, I'll spit on my finger and draw on the wall."
When I examine my life, I find no such passion. I'm excluding relationships such as spouses and children but looking at my own life. Am I passionate about writing? I've written a manuscript, but haven't done anything with it. Am I passionate about my religion? I'm a believer, yet often just go through the motions. Am I passionate about my career? I just want the day to end so I can go home. Am I passionate about life? Evening fare is reduced to what's on TV.
What a gift a passion must be. I wistfully watch these programs not jealous of the attention these celebrities receive, but of their drive and passion.
Are any of you passionate about anything. Is there something you're doing that you'd do no matter what, for free, for ever? Or are you just mugging through life as I seem to be, grasping at moments of happiness and trying to survive everything else?
Can you become passionate or is it something you're just born with. A type of life lottery?
I don't know, but I wish I was passionate enough to find out.
posted by Death Warmed Over | 9:06 PM
8 Comment:
i hope i find a passion. i'm passionate about life, but there are so many interests, i cant narrow it down
I have that passion about writing, although I'm a little more low-key by nature. I've always said that if I have to work in Corporate America during the day and write at nights, I won't consider it a wasted life. At the same time, I'm just not as fanatical as many others. Stephen King says he gets nervous and jittery when he doesn't have anything to read. I keep reading materials nearby at all times, but I can go a few hours without reading something.
I've been told I am very passionate in general--writing, teaching, ideas, religion to a point, but I have my guard up there, not because of God but because of the faithful. Like Grant, I am passionate about reading. Having said all this, I am also guilty of detachment and disassociation--ususally it involves people, some who have burned me, but some that I just don't know how to get close to--even though they mean no harm. I wonder if I got that from my mother, this ability to just be emotionally absent, especially when so many people see me as the opposite. We are all a curious mix.
I'd play poker forever even if it was free, which is kinda sad. I like the career I'm choosing, but I can't say I'd do it for free unless I was very financially secure, then I'd do probono for free, sure, but in reality I'd probably give up any "passion" just to have more time with my wife. She's my really passion anyway. I'd rather not have a picasso type passion and have more time to spend with family.
fatty-the nice thing is when your still young you have more time to explore your interests. Take advantage of this time and enjoy!
grant-I forgot reading. I guess that would be a passion. Reading is such a great escape from the day to day grind. Well, Stephen King. If I had his coin I'd read all day too.
EOTR-it is interesting how people perceive us. My coworkers think I'm out going but the truth is I'd rather eat lunch at a resturant by myself and enjoy the paper or a book.
Fresh-what is your wife behind you reading over your shoulder? But I agree with you. Family time is fleeting and should be savored and enjoyed.
I think you can become passionate about something - whether it lasts forever or only for a season doesn't matter.
I developed a passion for photography just a few years ago. But I've had a passion for justice since I was young. Hate to see the bad guys win at anything, you know? But that doesn't mean that's what I do for a living.
Sometimes people project this image of themselves and get all melodramatic about it and it's perceived as being very passionate, when in reality it's just selfishness. you know what I mean?
Don't envy others. You're good to go just like you are. :)
:)
Thanks OMW, just as long as my passion isn't wishing I was someone else!
Inside the Actor's Studio is good because the stars usually let their guard down just a bit. Enough to see the actor within and not just the image.
-- david
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