You're Closer than You Think -- Lessons from Long Distance Swimmer Florence Chadwick

In 1952, a woman named Florence Chadwick decided to attempt to swim the 26 miles between the California coastline and Catalina Island.

During her swim to Catalina she traveled with a team who kept an out for sharks and were ready to assist in the event of cramps, injury, or fatigue. About 15 hours into her swim a thick fog began to set in, which clouded not only her vision but sense of confidence. Chadwick's mother happened to be in one of the boats at the time and listened as her daughter told her she didn't believe she could make it. She went on for another hour before deciding to quit. As she sat in the teetering boat she discovered if she'd just swam another mile she would have reached the island.

Many people quit a dream right on the brink of its realization. It's often when the most challenges set in that we're actually getting closer. If we learn to not let a little fog discourage our confidence and fortitude we'll find that it fades creating that clarity to move forward. 

But what's important to remember is the fog never permanently stays away. It comes and goes just as doubts do. The key is to recognize the value of forging along anyway -- to bring your own weather when it comes to pursuing meaningful endeavors. Keeping your poise is an essential skill and will enable you to navigate through moments of uncertainty. 

Two months after Chadwick's failed attempt she tried the swim once more. Again, a thick fog set in. But this time she had a mental image of the shoreline in her mind as she pushed herself along. Not only did she succeed the second time, but she ended up making the same swim two other times.

Chadwick was also the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions, doing so in record times.

What Fishing with a WWII Vet Taught Me

I can’t remember who organized a fishing trip with Noonie and me one summer afternoon. I was just a few years out of college and hadn’t really spoken to our old neighbors since my family had moved. Yet, here we were out on the reservoir fishing together.

To say Noonie was a man of few words would be a profound understatement. Like many men of his generation, he spoke only when he had something worth saying. Something I've grown to appreciate as I get older.

                 

As the two of us sat in the boat I noticed Noonie gazing out on the calm surface of the water. It was peaceful and I felt lucky to be spending time with someone whose example I had grown to admire. 

Unexpectedly, he broke the silence and started talking about his time in the Navy during World War II.  “We were so young. We didn’t know what was going to happen. It was scary at times. I hated most of it to be honest. But you know, it’s funny, I look back now and it was probably the best time of my life.” Then he drifted off and didn’t say another word for the rest of the day.

I realized two things that day. First, life is about relationships. Knowing you have a support system that will listen to your concerns, understand your doubts, and lend a hand when you’re in need is always important.

And second, someday we may regret the moments we spent so much time trying to speed through. It’s easy to enjoy the ups, be grateful the downs have passed, but most of living is in the middle. It takes a little more effort, but since we spend so much time there, it’s well worth learning to appreciate.

It Has to Be for YOU

As a creator, you're going to come up against a lot of resistance. People won't understand or appreciate what you're trying to say. You'll wrestle with your own doubts of whether or not a pursuit devoted to telling stories and creating are is worth it. You may even start to compare yourself with the careers and work of others, which never leads to anything good.

What makes be an actor or artist so difficult is how mentally tough you need to be. Because a life devoted to telling stories and creating are is such a solo endeavor you spend a great deal of time battling the voices in your own head that tell you what you do isn't impactful.

What will sustain you through those challenging times is the fact you are ultimately creating art for YOU. If it's for someone else's approval you'll never be happy. 

If on the other hand, someone finds joy in work you ALSO find meaningful, well, it doesn't get much better than that. To share your voice with the world and have it resonate with a community of like-mined people is why we do what we do.

At a Crossroads

Last week alone I spoke with three actor friends who felt equally lost in their pursuits. "I don't jump out of bed anymore," one told me. "I'm at a crossroads," another said. 

I listened not quite knowing what to say. Instead, I shared how I'd dealt with the very same challenges when I wrestled with my own doubts of whether to continue acting.

The truth is, what you want at 25 will be different than what you want at 45. It doesn't mean you've quit a dream but that you've evolved as a person, and what you value most in life has changed. It's something we shouldn't feel bad about but should recognize as progress in our personal evolution.

If something is no longer giving you joy it's important to take some personal inventory and ask yourself why. What I've learned this year is we already know all the things we have to do. When we phone a close friend, or seek advice we're merely hoping they echo what we already know to be true within.

World traveler and best-selling author, Chris Guillebeau asks himself these two questions to determine when it's time to try something new:

1. Is it working?
2. Is it making me happy?

If the answer to both is no it may be time to chart a new path but it's something you need to decide. 

The moment I started to get really honest with myself and explore other meaningful relationships and experiences, opportunities I couldn't have predicted started coming my way. What's more, I became a better and happier artist.

And remember, even if you do decide to take a little break from your first love, you can always come back. A little distance may offer some much needed perspective. 

Having doubts is an integral and even exciting part of life. Just remember to frame it as an opportunity.