Paul's Corner

Paul.
Up here in Florida u.s.a. Hope all is well with you and your family and cant waite to see your next project.

(I hate to be the first one to post a comment, lest I be raised to "stalker status" in anyone's mind, least of all, my OWN! Oy...)

Regardless, Paul brought it up, and it's something I've been considering lately as well..."Faith". (I totally cracked up at the stripper referance...as the "dizzying opportunities" THEY offer would be so short-lived. I would think. NOT that I would know, of course!) I used to think that those who relied on faith were pathetic, weak, individuals who didn't have the chutzpah to create their own realities. Someone who said "God will provide" or "My own Goodness will come back around to me eventually" would just be a coward and a scaredy cat in my, younger, eyes. I swear I was gonna pop the next person who said to me while I was waiting for the "right" teaching job just out of college, "Patience is a virtue"! Turns out, uh, I now spout ALL of those axioms to my kids adn co-workers. Provision comes when it is ready to...we've never been without food (so it wasn't name brand when the kids were in diapers and I worked part-time!), shelter (so my husband was out cutting wood at midnight...we had HEAT then!), or clothing (come now, some of my favourite outfits have come from Goodwill Fashions!), and we worked hard to coat our savings a bit after that. But never to the extent that our kids' psyches were in jeopardy or that they were being raised by someone else (daycare fulltime). We KNEW it would get better, we just had to keep at it. The more we worked at it, the closer my husband and I became. I see now that we are a UNIT, all of us together, and when the chips start to fall, we look back and say, "Hey...if we did it THEN (on no money, no credit, n o family/help nearby, a faltering marriage)then we can certainly work through "this".

This wasn't supposed to be a "hey, Paul, hang in there buddy!" sort of pumped-up message, nor was it about me. IT was supposed to be about Faith...so let me get back to it...Faith in yourself, in your relationships, in the world, in "deity"...it all comes down to this: you are a part of the divine creation, so let that wash over you and feed from it...that's "faith" in my book. I believe in myself, from past experiences, from having good people support me in this life, and it enables me to look at things positively, EVEN (and especially when) life sucks the most. SUCH as...this lull in your professional life...allows you to tuck your girls in bed most nights, doesn't it? You're not halfway around the world emailing and phoning. Have you "enjoyed" the grocery store experience this week with a family of five? ;-) I know, I know... just being a fabulous Dad doesn't put food on the table, but BE ASSURED that doing this NOW, will affect your future, and most importantly, theirs. Personally, I believe what you do in this life comes back to you threefold. So, you've done a hell of a lot of good so far...so bask in it. It will come when it is time.

A gift I give to friends is a thin book called "The Four Agreements". It's not some psychobabble warm-fuzzy B.S. about "Oh, you're so worthy, don't worry, be happy" shplah, it's a collection of Toltemic wisdom, and in it, one of the agreements that you make with yourself is that you won't take anything personally for things actions or happenings that you did not directly "put out there" yourself. An example would be that someone says something that hurts or angers you. DO you agree with what they said? No? Then FORGET IT! If you find yourself becoming angry with yourself for whatever that person said you said or did, then perhaps you need to look at THAT aspect of yourself, and not be angry at that person for saying that to you (especially if you discover you agree with it! "How dare they point that out about me?") This has been CRUCIAL in assisting my marraige, work relationships, mothering, and friendships, nd overall worldly outlook. I guess it all has to do with having faith in yourself, first and foremost.

Ok, off the soapbox!

Continued blessings,
Dhiana

PS. I just re-read all this and do NOT ask me what all those Jewish-sounding referances are...I'm SCOTTISH for pity's sake! Must be channelling again...;-) Ciao! and danka!

What an intriguing site I have found here, as I sit and wait for my cold medicine to take effect so I can go back to bed.
A very sage post from Dhiana. I enjoyed reading it very much. I realize she is right, as I look out my window to see the hummingbirds in my garden and my roses in full bloom. There can be beauty and satisfaction in every aspect of life but we must be willing to appreciate it. I have been home with my two children for 4 years now and I too feel a sting of unfullfillment; a need to be creative and expressive which brings me to tears sometimes.
I once spoke with a woman who told me she had spent the past 14 years of her life in a fog. When she awoke her children were practically grown and she had gained 50lbs. Stupidly, I laughed. But, she was very serious. I realized that I was on that same path. What was my son like at two, or my daughter? Could I really remember what it was like to nurse a 6 month old baby. I was not paying enough attention to those moments that would never come again. Some might say "carpe deim" is a better philosophy but I think life should be savored slowly lest it pass too quickly. There will always be another opportunity on the horizon whether presented by chance or made by ourselves.
You know, I recently read an article about a local artist in Ojai who has recently "redicovered" an ancient chinese glaze for his pottery. This man is in his mid or late 80's. (And to think I had a fit over turning 30 this year) That's the beauty of art and creativity. We never lose it. We just have to be willing to let it take on other forms in our lives.

I apologize for any egregious spelling errors. I really must get an English dictionary around here.

Paul, all I can say to you in a time like this, is just hang in there. You are an incredible person with a wide variety of talent. To top it off you're a good person, and that goes a long way. I am a person who believes that everything happens for a reason, and the right thing will come along when it's time. In the meantime you relish in the joy of family and friends and the things you love. That is what I did.

I had been working a good job, with a great boss, in a job that I thought was very stable. Then 9-11 happened. I worked for the corporate office of an international travel agency, and finally the bad economy forced even them into wide spread layoffs. At that point, even my job was let go. So here it was, October, and I have no job. I took the severance for a while to lick my wounds and form a plan of action, then signed up with some temp agencies. I got a couple jobs here and there, but nothing permanent. Then I got a break. I got an offer with a good company for a temp to hire job. I got in with a great boss, great coworkers, even my next door neighbor worked there. 2 1/2 months into the job (I was supposed to go permanent at 3 mos.), the corporate parent announces the company is being closed. Great, there goes that job, back to the starting gate. To make a long story short, it took another month and a half before I found a job. I've been with this company for a month now, after being without work for 6 months, and find it's the best thing that ever happened to me. All that's left now is to catch up on the bills.

What I was trying to say (in my own long winded way), is that we all get thrown curve balls in life, and we just have to trust in the love and support of our family and friends to get us through the bumps, and have faith that all will work out in the end. Every time I rememinded myself of this, I was amazed at the peace of mind and heart that I felt and how sure I was that the right thing was just around the corner - just as it will be for you.

Faith. ". . . on the good ground are they, which in an honest good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." St. Luke 18:15. We have great faith in you, Paul.

Faith. Yes, a very powerful word and often dfficult to maintain. I have a cousin in the movie business (screenwriter) and we have often talked about the business. From listening to him I learned how cutthroat and nasty a place it can be. But faith in his talent and ability (and a bit of luck) is what has enabled him to continue doing what he loves. He scored big on his first movie but it was ten years before he had another movie made. Ten long and very discouraging years for him. Faith and perserverance is what kept him going (and family encouragement, love and support). So you just have to keep trying and hopefully your day will come. We all know you have the talent and we all have faith it will happen for you. I realize that doesn't put food on the table but support from friends is worth quite a bit. Best of luck and keep the faith!

Faith who is she? Is she the stripper or is she the sunset on the beach? Could she be both? Faith. Is it a concept or a reality? Can we believe in something without knowing what we're believing in? Well I think yes we can. With the help of friends and family (as mentioned in Cathy's comments) faith can keep us going. Faith isn't the be all end all but it sure can help. Sometimes we need faith to continue, mostly when times are hard. This is when we also need friends. I wonder does this mean we gather faith from friends? Can having someone who believes in us provide us with the faith? I'm not sure about faith, what it is or what it does, but I do believe in friends and I do believe we need to have faith in ourselves and the people around us. Have you noticed that when a friend or family member has faith in you it becomes easier to believe in yourself? anyway that's my thoughts on faith.

Hmmmm, faith. I know not how to really address such an intangible concept. I know that sometimes it seems as though, no matter what, faith in anything is fruitless. I happen to be at one of those times. I try to have faith in a simple concept (simple, at least, superficially). The concept is: Be positive to get positive results....Be nice to others and others should be nice to you....Be a good friend, have a good friend...etc.
The question is: Where do you turn when faith in something yields nothing? I suppose the answer to that is: You turn to faith. Afterall, what is faith if it is not ever tested?
I am 24 years old, not by any means unnatractive, and in a little over a week I am to graduate from one of the top 20 law schools in the United States...yet I cannot seem to focus on the positive, only the negative....I do not have a job, I will have $115,000 worth of debt, my family is unhappy, and I can't seem to find love in anything (people, my profession etc).
So, additionally, faith is, for the moment, not being able to find faith in anything, yet trusting that I will....(swelling violins, anyone?)

Sorry so morose....but to be sanguine would not be honest...

To all: Find your inspiration and let it take you.

Ever,
Sarah W.

Thank you Grant, for your inspiring words on faith. I look around my own house and see nothing but unfinished sculptures, designs and sketches as yet unrealized. Unfortunately for me, inspiration comes in my darkest moments, when I am least equipped to follow through. I guess it takes courage to let friends and family have faith in you. Sometimes it is easier to just be miserable. I can see though, without faith in myself I will never enjoy success.

Faith, it may seem that we lose it sometimes, but we never really do. I use to hate it when my parents would tell me the reason I didn't get a part in a show I auditioned for was because it wasn't meant to be, something better was going to come along. It would frustrate me because they didn't seem to understand how much I wanted that part not some other one. But sure enough they were right. It may seem like something good is never going to happen and then one day when you least expect it....WOW! and you can't believe something this good actually happened. Everyone has ups and downs in their personal and professional lives. You just have to have faith that there is something great waiting for you. Please everyone remember this.

Paul, you are a talented and kind man. Enjoy this time with your wife and kids now, because you never know when a job offer will come along and you will no longer have extra free time to be with the people who truly love and admire you.

Take care and best wishes all around,
Marie

Hmm..faith - very thought provoking. When I was younger - as Dhianna - I thought of faith as a crutch - for those blindly believing things that couldn't be proved. Believing "just because". Now that I have life experience with me, I can recognize the very fine line between "blind grasping", and genuine faith. So, I had to think if I actually had any true faith these days. I think faith is believing (after exploration and consideration) that what you are doing is the best thing for you. Faith as an actor... believing that, even when jobs take awhile to come together, that there is nothing else you'd rather do. Faith in marriage... that even through the rough times, there is no one else you'd rather be with. Faith in religion... is not faith in a diety or karma.. but faith in a lifestyle. That by emulating the attributes of a good (fill-in-the-blank - christian, buddhist..) that it will help you lead a happier, more fulfilling life. Faith in the afterlife? I guess, believing that if I will my life trying to lessen the suffering others, having the fewest regrets, and really living life - that this will continue after death no matter what is waiting. Faith is easy during the good time, but tested during the rough. With faith - you may still have doubts, but the faith in what you believe is what gets you through the roughest of times.

Shannon

Chaos, harmony and dance: here´s to you, Paul:
Friedrich Nietzsche, a great countryman of mine, once said:
" Only he, who carries chaos within himself will be able to give birth to a dancing star."

from someone who was also born on the 31st of March on the other side of the world.( and was funnily enough an exchange student in Swan Hill for a year.... :-) a long time ago..)