Tuesday 26 June 2012

Secret to a Happy Life...Not so Secret

Goooood morning everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, as I most certainly did!

So I have a little nugget of news...I NOW HAVE A SECOND JOB. Yes. I kid you not. This is actually pretty funny since when I started this blog all I had were somewhat vague leads on possible positions, and now, four posts in, I have acquired not one but TWO jobs! And I don't mean to rub this in anyone's face who is still out there pounding the pavement unsuccessfully. I'm just genuinely relieved and excited at this sudden turn of events.

So again, I won't get into details, but I'll be working for a certain beverage company that has known to provide the public with a certain vehicle for caffeine...I won't say anymore. Anyway, I know lots of people who are employed by the same company and they're very happy with them, so I'm really excited to begin my training!

Speaking of which, that reminds me of a conversation I had with someone recently, who made the point that I could just as easily have gotten these types of jobs without a degree. This was obviously somewhat upsetting. Although for anyone else thinking the same thing, or anyone who is concerned about "settling" for these kinds of positions, consider the following:

1) We don't know that my degree didn't affect me getting these positions. In this incredibly competitive  job market, if you're down to a final group of people up for consideration of one position, and you're the only one who holds a degree, chances are that will give you a leg up on the others. Never regret the time and money you put in your education - what's better to invest in than yourself and your future?

2) This is a means to an end. This isn't and will not be my career for the rest of my life. I'm not starting these jobs thinking "well this is what it's going to be from now on" because I have goals and a focus, and I don't intend on sacrificing those for anything. If working these jobs means I'll be able to move forward in order to achieve my goals, then I think it's a pretty smart move.

3) Doing this sort of low-commitment work (and by that I mean once you finish work, you've finished working for the day, there's nothing you need to take home with you to take up your own time) will allow me to continue working on my voice on my own time. I realize I'll be tired, and working will take a lot out of me, but this is bigger than all that. I know what I need to continue to do in order to achieve my goals, and like I said, nothing is going to get in the way of that.

4) One day when I look back at this time in my life I'll be able to say to all those people who had their doubts: "Sure, I worked a crap job for a few years before I was able to actually go anywhere with singing, but look where I am now. I do what I love and brings me true happiness everyday for a living -  can you say that much about yourself?"

My fellow artists: never give up on your dream. It's the most precious thing you have that no one can ever take from you, no matter how jaded they are and no matter what they tell you. Everyone who has ever succeeded as an artist never gave up, and none of it came easy to them either. But those people did succeed and so can you or I, as long as we hold on to our dreams, work hard, and never give up.

People really give "starving artists" a bad rap. That whole term is full of negative connotations which is why I hesitate to use it at all. As my boyfriend, who is also a singer (a baritone!), said "there are tons of people out there who truly want to achieve careers as artists, have a goal, and they work their asses off for it. But it's those other people who wake up one morning, decide they can play/sing every once in a while, while sitting on their parents couch the rest of the time, not even trying to work for it, and use the excuse that they're a 'starving artist', that give the rest of us who are actually trying a bad name." And I find it so funny because there are so many people out there who are well off, and financially "successful" and think they have it all figured out, because they have money, when their job sucks the life out of them, and they feel no passion in life whatsoever. To me, that is a poor life decision.

We're only here for a short time; a blink of an eye in the scheme of things. It seems like common knowledge to me that we should be living our lives to the fullest, filling it with things that make us happy, and make those around us happy. I know that money is important (hense why I am about to start working two jobs for who knows how long), but there comes a point when you have to ask yourself "am I truly happy with my life? If I died today would I be satisfied with what I've done and accomplished?" Even though I'm only 21, I would die happy. I've spent my life thus far working towards a dream and passion I've felt my whole life. It has filled my world with joy, and lead me to people without whom I don't know where I would be. If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing, because I feel true happiness. To me, if that's not in your life, there's something wrong. The person who has all the money but feels nothing? That's the person who's missing out.

Alright. That's enough intensity for one day.

To all you dreamers out there, keep on truckin'. You won't regret it.





Photo: qthomasbower - flickr

3 comments:

  1. Love you, Clairebear! Which location will you be working at? So I can come and bug you :)

    I need some time with you, I miss you tons! I'm probably going to call you later just 'cause...

    <3 R

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  3. Thank you for the lovely use of "Big Heart of Art". I only just today saw it! ;)

    - QThomasBower

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