Lessons in patience

Originally posted on MySpace blog on 12/28/06:

I don't really like checking up on the Academy's page (on MySpace). I didn't really like going to the Academy, to be perfectly honest. That's not to say it didn't have it's good times. It did, but I was mostly dissappointed about the way things turned out. I don't know if it was because it was the first time I was living on my own, or if I was no longer a big fish in a little pond (I'd like to think not, but I still wonder). Mostly, I think it was the attitude of the whole place. It just felt so very competitive and negative. Everyone was looking for the bad traits in everyone else. Everyone was so quick to point out why you were a bad actor. It was productive, but so very limiting. I learned a lot about acting, but practically nothing about being an actor, if that makes sense.
So, I went on their page, today ('cause sometimes I'm a sucker). I went to my year of graduation, and I found several people I knew. Some of them are my friends, already. Some of them I should be keeping in touch with, but don't for one reason or another (we ended up on opposite sides of the fence, and I'm still afraid to peek through a board). Some of them I just never got along with, which happens. And some of them are doing exactly what they set out to do, and it bums me out. Not because... well, yes, because I'm not. I'm not perfect, and I'll be the first to admit it. But, to quote Inego Montoya, "I hate waiting."
This hasn't exactly been my favorite year. But it certainly has been an educational one. The most important lesson I learned is, "Do your research". I can't guarantee that I wouldn't have moved back to the High Desert, but if I'd known beforehand that it would be so hard to get a decent-paying job, I may have swallowed my pride and considered some options. According to Stephen King, the only time you don't have to do research is before writing a story. He says, if you have a story in your head that requires research, write the story first, then research it for your second draft. Because when the story's published, no one's going to know that you didn't have your facts straight. (Pretty much what he said in, "The Writer's Handbook 2001".) Which is coincidental, because I'm writing a book, now. I don't know how long it's going to take me, or if it will be any good. But it's a story I've been rolling around in my head for most of the year and I'm finally putting it to paper. My goal is to be peddling it to publishers in early 2008, so we'll see.
Anyway, another thing I learned is that the people you look up to growing up can make ginormous mistakes, and it's entirely possible to be creeped out by them, later. A bummer, isn't it? 'Nuff said.
Yet another lesson I learned in 2006 is not to worry so much about things. Bad things happen all the time, but there are good things that happen, too. When I look at all of the lousy things that happened, they're really not that bad. And who's to say things won't improve. Sure, I'm on the brink of getting my car repo'ed, but look at my profile. With 53 friends (two of them are actually the same person), I'm bound to be able to bum a ride off of somebody. And if not, well, I've still got my feet. I've been wanting to get back into shape.
And finally, I learned that you should avoid getting hit in the face when you have a pointy stick in your mouth. Look out, Hollywood! I'm working on my comeback, one emergency room visit at a time!
I learned more lessons than this, but like you're going to want to read even more. Maybe I'll make an abbreviated list?