I'm Growing Up... I think.

I was thirty-five years old when I passed the laundry mat phase of my life.
I always thought I'd grow up faster, especially because I was wearing three-piece suits as a nine year old.  But something shifted for me when I got to high school.  I decided it was okay to be young, wild, creative and free...
I guess that's what happens when you're a performer attending a performing arts high school.
I'm happy that I had those crazy adventures in Chicago, Europe and New York City, however it wasn't until I moved back to Los Angeles when I realized, I'm ready to start living an adult life.
I don't miss the parking pass; carry (four months worth of) your dirty laundry to a laundry mat; only eat out during Happy Hour, hours part of my life.
I may not be the next Hollywood heartthrob, but I have an awesome life and a fabulous career doing what I love.
And today, that just feels awesome.
I'd still like to take the day off, and go to Disneyland though.

Motivated!

If you want to "do it all" you have to start by doing something.
Taking that first step in any direction is hard, however it will help motivate the spirt into action.
Action equals results.
So my choices today:
Sit around waiting for a phone to ring.
OR
Pick up the phone and start ringing-up some potential opportunities.
The only way to succeed, is by going after what you want!

Standing On Principle

Sometimes standing on principle just pisses people off.

You have to ask yourself, 

Do I want to be right?

Or

Why do I give a F_ck?

If the goal is to prove a point, take a less passive-aggressive approach-

Articulate your case and move on!

Be Careful What You Wish For

Sitting at home bored one day, waiting for my phone to ring-
I started sending out emails looking for leads,
I just wanted to stay active in between promoting my book and choreographing and teaching master classes on the weekends.
It's not that I wasn't pleased with my time for yoga, socializing with friends and catching up on a lot of reality TV-
My mind just needs distractions.
Well, low and behold, I received responses from all of my outreach, and now I'm over-booked and have no time to breathe.
Be careful what you wish for!
I'd finish this blog post, but I don't have

Observation on Balance

When you have a full day,
There's no time to play!
Unless you work your ass off to shit done, so that you can sneak away from work to go to a Friday Happy Hour and a date night movie...
#Balance

Recognizing You're Growing Up

That uncomfortable moment when you realize you're not "that" person anymore, but you're caught in the eye of the storm.
How do you get out?
You cause a bigger storm, and level the playing field...
Then you move to a new state. Or peer group!

Rise and Shine

"The earlier I wake up, the more time I have to accomplish my goals and get things done!"
...is what I repeat as I peel myself from my bed with my eyes glued shut.
As a classic overachiever I set high expectations.  I refuse to fail because I didn't work hard enough.
I've come to the decision that I will do everything in my power to accomplish my goals in life-
If that means a 6 AM wake-up call, then so be it.
The only thing more annoying than an early morning wake-up call, is not succeeding because I was too lazy.

Loyalty In Business?

Loyalty- I'm grateful for it, until it prevents me from making the right choice.
I believe in standing by my colleagues during conflict-
Defending them and our relationship.
But in business, I'm learning that sometimes you have to cut that cord.
It can be painful, but it's more devastating to go down with a burning ship that never gave you your own cabin anyway.

Daily Reminder

Life is as easy or difficult as we allow it to be!
I've blogged this before, and I'll blog it again, because it is a reminder that continues to evade me from time to time.
Once I remember that I can release the shitty circumstances and reinvent my outlook, I seem to thrive.
So, I'll ask myself this question:
Why the f_ck would I choose to make life any harder?
Dump that nonsense and move on!

YOGAtta Be Kidding Me!

Last time I checked, yoga was meant to be a peaceful practice of mind, body, and spirt-
Leave it to LA to turn it into a competitive, catty environment with strobe lights and club beats...
I am so NOT down with that dog!

Saturdays at Starbucks

The Hollywood socialites are fast asleep. While the overachieving fitness fanatics are sprinting past the homeless man that sits outside, eagerly awaiting an act of kindness from a European tourist.

Meanwhile, I stand in a line thirty-people-deep for my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year.

Starbucks is the McDonalds of the 21st Century.

And just like my elementary years with the Value Meal No. 2, I am #addicted!

Emotional Much?

You know you are a sensitive person when you cry during a two minute YouTube clip (posted on Facebook) of a stray cat who is ignored by everyone on a busy street, until a homeless man comes to the rescue and the cat starts purring.
#ICryAtHallmarkCommercials

Fear

Fear is the enemy of creativity.
It slowly destroys the imagination-
Replacing peace of mind with confusion.

When Life Caves In On You...

You have two choices:
Dig yourself out and keep on going.
Or
Give up the fight and get buried alive.
#ThePowerOfAChoice

The View is Looking Good! ...Again!

I was a closeted The View fan since the dawn of the show,
Until they dumped Rosie for a Republican schmoe,
This season returns with a new logo, a new set and a new Republican, too!
But, I'm back on board for the Rosie times TWO!
#TheViewIsBack

The Aftermath...

Cleaning up after a dinner party is similar to rummaging through a teenagers bedroom-
Everywhere you look there is a stack of something gross and crusty.
Half-eaten containers of food underneath furniture.
Overflowing trash bin.
Board game remnants strewn about.
And a funky smell fills the air... What is that?  It's nothing that was prepared by me!
#CleanUpIsGross

Dinner Party

Friends, food & fabulous conversation.

Oh, and delicious combination of beverages.

Six Word Essay on Saturday Morning Cartoons

SpongeBob SquarePants is the cartoon King!

Motivate! ...NOW!

The act of staying motivated, with nothing promising in sight, is always a challenge.
Life is full of ups and downs.  Especially in the entertainment industry.
I fight to maintain my disgustingly positive energy, even in the midst of a dry-spell or a shitstorm!
Everything seemed so much easier in my twenties.
Now, I actually have to give myself a pep-talk to get to yoga, class or a meeting...
I guess that's what happens when you hit thirty-  you allow the reality of reality to sink in.
Well, I have a choice.  I refuse to be a bitter thirty-something complainer-
I'm ready for my next adventure.  But the only way that's happening is with the motivation to get up off my ass and do something about it.
#NotGivingUpThatEasy

Remembering

It's hard to believe that thirteen years have passed since that unimaginable day in New York City.
I woke up to the sound of crying, my roommate had been up earlier than I, and saw the first plane fly into the World Trade tower.
We watched in horror as the second plane flew into the second tower-
We knew then it was no accident.
More than the fear, the overwhelming smell of smoke and destruction, and the looming uncertainty, I will remember how my New Yorkers and America united that day.
I was never more grateful to have my friends, who after that day, will forever be my family.  We cried together.  We comforted one another.  We prayed.  We told stories, which turned into much needed laughter.
On that day, we lost our innocents.  Through it all, I had my friends, who from then on, I consider members of my family.

Done. and Done!

It's no secret (I've mentioned this before) I LOVE crossing things off lists.
But I have to take it a step further, of course...
Now, I play a game to see if I can cross-off all of my "to do's" before 10 AM.
If I win, I get to cut work early and take a dip in the pool.
Today I claim victory!
Sure, I could be working on a plethora of important projects, but there's always tomorrow for that.

An Open Letter To The Universe

Dear Universe,
I realize I'm just a microscopic piece of dust in the grand scheme of everything, but I was hoping you could just help me shine with the stars and the planets.
Somehow I've bounced out of alignment, and I really need to get back on track.
Oh, and I wouldn't mind if Mercury would stop going into retrograde (whatever that means) my friends keep telling me this is a major problem, and I don't give a shit.
Thanks,
Matthew

A Poem About Mondays

Email inbox full,
Slowly I weed through the spam;
It's almost lunchtime!

When Opportunity Knocks...

Answer the door in your hottest outfit!

Oh, and be outrageously confident, sincerely charming and ridiculously over-prepared!

Six Word Essay on Morning Wake-up Calls

Puppies, stop jumping on my bladder!

There's No Business Like Showbusiness!

I always feel guilty for finding loopholes and using them,
Until I remember that a shadier person created the loophole to be used!
What's that old saying?  "Fake it, till you make it."
...and leverage everything you've got!

Pep Talk!

There are twenty-four hours in a day,
Six of which I spend sleeping-
Which means I have eighteen usable hours in a day.
More than enough time to get shit done!
So I have two options really,
1. I can sit around and complain about what's not "working" for me.
or
2. I can get motivated, take action and make "it" happen.
Good talk, Matthew!

Focus On The Work

The amount of energy you put into a project,
Is directly proportionate to the outcome.
Passion, detail and determination combined with pure hard work usually produces something powerful.
Hold onto the feeling of accomplishment. That, is success.
The praise and attention (which may or may not come) does not make something better, it's just the icing on an already delicious cake.

It's Tuesday... Get to Work!

When Tuesday is "Monday" my whole game is off-
I can't start a work week on day two!
These unanswered phone calls aren't going to return themselves,
So it leaves me no choice, I have to do Monday's work today, and the first thing I do on Monday mornings is walk to Starbucks to ease my way back into the work week!

#FloorBeds

A bed made out of pillows on the floor. Used for cuddling puppies and watching movies; enjoyed most on holidays and weekends. Perfect for holiday weekends.