Changing Perspectives

Happy Monday evening, guys and girls!  

I'm currently sitting here on my balcony overlooking Los Angeles, and this is quite a beautiful sight to see.  I can actually still see everything because it's staying lighter longer - which means summer is right around the corner!! Wooooo!!  (I have multiple "Endless Summer" posters on the wall of my little apartment!)  

As I look out over this view, I feel really grateful.  I'm grateful for this moment.  (Ok, yes again I'm making a reference to my most recent YouTube video where I sang a cover of Katy Perry's "This Moment!"  But I really do think you should check it out if you have a minute! Here's the link to my YouTube haha.)  

Anyway, yes, I feel really happy in this moment.  And remember friends, feeling happy is a choice.  It's a choice to see the positives of all circumstances, and that's not always easy to do when you're going through something challenging in your life!  I'm not going to lie to you - work-wise, things have been a bit slow lately, and that can feel scary sometimes.  It can even feel frustrating.  I have written countless articles at acting.about.com regarding the challenges that actors and artists face when work and auditions become hard to come by.  After pursuing an acting and writing career for the past 7 years, I've certainly been here before.

But I've come to realize that in times when work is slower, rather than becoming nervous or frustrated about where the next job is coming from, it's important to simply take everything day by day, work on my own projects and appreciate everything that I have in my life right now.  And my gosh, there are SO many people and things to feel happy and grateful about.  I am honestly such a lucky guy!  (That includes feeling fortunate because of all of you, my awesome readers, who take the time to come and visit my blog.  Thank you!!)

Today, I had some time today to go on a hike.  I walked up into the hills behind my apartment and looked out over the view of L.A.  I haven't walked that high up in what seems to be forever.  I suppose that's because I'm constantly running around and being busy.  Busy is good, yes, but it's equally important to take a look around once in a while and take in all of the beauty around us!

A friend of mine who lives by the coast posted a photo of the ocean to her Instagram account recently.  She captioned the photo with an explanation of how important it is to truly appreciate something that we become "used" to seeing or doing.  I really loved reading that.  In her example, she was referring to being at the beach.  For me today, I was reminded - yet again - of just how amazing it is to live in a place like Southern California, to see the sun almost every single day!  I never take that for granted, but being constantly aware of things like this helps to keep the mind focused on how truly awesome everything around us is. 

And you know, being so high up and looking down at the city is always awe inspiring.  So much happening in the massive city, so many awesome people, yet everything looked very small - even the huge buildings of DTLA. All I could hear were birds and the brush rustling around me!  It was honestly so beautiful.  By changing my perspective, I totally forgot about feeling nervous about work/auditions.  I was fully present in the moment, surrounded by so much beauty.   

Reader friends, in all of our lives there is so much to be thankful for.  Take a bit of time to devote to fully appreciating all the beauty around you.  Life is not always going to be easy, but we're only here for a (relatively) short amount of time.  So, live it up as much as possible, even on the days that might be challenging!      

Finally, in addition to recognizing the beauty around you, don't forget to recognize your own beauty, too.  There is only one of you out there, and you have so much potential!!

Thanks for reading,.  Lots of love everyone!

Jesse x 

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