Randy Thomas "Living the Dream" was the most unique and perhaps the most thought provoking session. Yes it started with Randy's story of rising to the top of her voice over game, but it also consisted of the stories of two of her friends, Arielle Ford and Martha Quinn.
Briefly Areille's story consisted of the accomplished rich/well-to-do business woman who starts to feel unfulfilled, quits her job/business without knowing what to do next, but knows that it has to be meaningful. For Areille, it was something that would be for the good of others and the earth. (that's wassup!) Like many folk, she was inspired by Eckhart Tolle. And two weeks after quitting her job, other opportunities opened up for her that were consistent with her intentions and desires. Ultimately, spiritualcinemacircle.com and earthcinemacircle.com were born, along with her Director of Affliliate Marketing position with Gaiam.
Martha Quinn's story was one of things just falling into her lap. From being the first MTV VJ to her now having a state of the art top knotch georgeous production studio that she says she "has no idea what to do with."
The purpose of these stories? To inspire us in the room. Spirituality was the thread. Visualize, intend, believe and it can happen. Feeling fulfilled and being financially sound doing what we love is obtainable for all of us. Indeed many of us were inspired. I really appreciated the spiritual approach to fulfilling our dreams. If you have read this blog, you know this is definitely an approach I take.
One of my new friends hated it. He said the whole thing smacked of "white woman privilege with their rich husbands" Now I was like WHOA! Wait a second. Then I stopped, took a breath and tried to put myself in his shoes to understand his perspective and then I said, Wait a second, Wait a second. What was it about the presentation that would make you think that? He went on to say that "C'mon she (Arielle, a successful business woman) quits her job, as if she was really living from paycheck to paycheck and had no money in the bank, no assets to liquidate if necessary. Please. "
When he said that, I immediately remembered one of my thoughts in the session: how easy it can be for many of us in that room to visualize, dream and have faith. What about women of Eastern Europe/Asia/Africa caught in the sex slave trade, whose working/living environments reinforce hopelessness, low self-esteem and death overall. What about child soldiers? How much harder is it for them to manifest their visions, dreams or desires for a different life?
Personally I don't necessarily hate on folk who have privilege whether it be race, class or gender. For me it is what someone does with that privilege that speaks to their character and world view.
I personally thought that one of the flaws in the presentation is that the stories were told in such an incidental way. What happened to when preparation meets opportunity? Using my friend's example with Arielle -- OK she quit her job, but did she start to put money aside when she knew she was going to quit? What other things did she do, putting faith into action, that helped her realize her goals? That was actually one of the questions an audience member asked -- After all the visualizing, what did you DO....?
We all know that if it was as simple as visualizing and believing, many of us would meditate on having a flat wash board stomach and never exercise a lick.
My friend then made the comment "Martha Quinn has a state of the art studio that she has no idea what to do with hummmph" To which I said -- hold up, don't hate on that, flip it, look at that as a manifestation -- how many of us, like Martha and that studio with it's tremendous abilities and capacities to do great work, have incredible talents and skills within us but have no idea how to use them?"
On that note, I know I have to find me a great Voice Over coach. Marc Cashman, Peter Rofe, I may be giving you a call.... lol
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