Follow Your Dream

If you have a dream in your heart it is up to you to follow it. Only you can make the decision to make your dreams a reality, no one else can or will. You are the master of your thoughts and actions. 

Over 30 years ago I made the decision to pursue a career in the performing arts. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a singer, actor and dancer.  During my school years, I was involved in our show choir and acting group.  I loved everything that had to do with performing.  I learned to play the guitar and formed a country duo with a girlfriend of mine.  We performed whenever we had the chance.  When school came to an end, I had to decide what to do with my life. I had no clue.  I didn't know that you could study the performing arts.  I thought you had to be discovered.  I was very naïve.  So I did the next best thing.  I listened to the well-meant advice of my dad, who said, “Sabine, find a job with benefits and a good salary, so you can pay your bills and have something left over to pursue you hobbies.”  It sounded good to me at the time, so I did just that. I ended up working as a claims adjuster for an insurance company.  This maybe a dream job for someone else, but it sure wasn’t for me. What was I to do? Ask and you shall receive.

The answer came through a “chance” meeting with my former music and drama teacher, Mr. Herbst, who always was an inspiration to me.  During our conversation, he asked me if I still was active with my singing and theater group.  My answer was no.  Then he said something profound that changed my life. He said, “What a shame Sabine, you are so talented.”  BAM!  That hit home.  That was exactly what I needed to hear.  My dream of becoming a performer came back to life, but I didn’t know where to start.  Someone once said to me:  “If your dream and the reason why you want to do it is big enough, the how will show up.”  I can say from my own experience that it’s true.

When I first began my journey in the entertainment industry, I had no clue what I was doing, but I took action in the direction of my dream.  After that meeting with my teacher, I went home, opened up the yellow pages and searched for acting schools.  I have to point out that back then there was no such thing as Google that makes everything so easy these days.  In any case, I picked up the telephone, called an acting school and scheduled my audition. 

When I shared my plan with my family they thought I had lost my mind.  They replied, “Sabine, this is a breadless profession; all actors are crazy; look at all the scandals.” and so on.  But I told them, I don’t want to look back on my life thinking, “Why didn’t I at least give it a try?”  Well, long story short, two weeks into school I knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.  The dream that was in my heart, almost extinguished, started back up with a small flicker and then busted into a burning desire.  I never looked back.  I didn’t do it for the money, but for the love of performing.  If you do something for the love of it and share your talent with the world, you are on the right track and the money will follow you.  The funny thing is that after two years working in a theater, I landed a role on TV.  We only filmed for six weeks over the summer, but during that time, I made more money than I did working for the insurance company for an entire year. 

Please post your commands below. What was the one or two factors that made you go after your dream?