Stop and smell the flowers

My friends call me a workaholic, but I like being busy. I feel restless when I'm not productive or stagnant. Sometimes I get so caught up, I forget how important it is to rest and recharge. I actually got pretty sick this last week and almost hit a point of burning out. We're definitely not meant to work 24/7... it's just not healthy.

I've been so busy I haven't even had time to share all the photos we shot over a month ago when my friends Daniel & Rob visited California. We spent a day in Hermosa Beach and I shot a quick video (sharing soon) and some photos.

Daniel aka the violin master snapped a few photos of me with Robby's camera, not bad! My friends are so talented. I'm always impressed and challenged to do better by my multi-talented friends. But I also feel like these days, if you're in the business of the arts. You have to be flexible and be willing to learn every part of the business to survive. So many of my friends who are talented film makers, editors, photographers are also talented musicians and actors.

Being an artist is hard, there's little to no structure, you're often waiting for opportunities and doing a lot of free work. But it's really amazing to look back at the last 10 years and see how much the internet has changed the game. New media and social media has helped people create their own opportunities. I was always a little slow to catch on but I'm doing my best now and learning as I go.

It's quite the grind but we do it because we love it, right?

So with all the pressure of having to do it all, how do we keep up? These days I feel like I barely have time to sleep trying to upkeep my youtube channel, this blog, auditions, filming, recording music, Leonard & Church and social media. Who knew social media would become such a big part of the job. I remember just a few years ago when I refused to start instagram because I thought Facebook and Twitter alone were hard enough to manage.

If you've been following this blog from the beginning you know I attempted a crazy task. I thought I would be able to blog every day. I don't regret trying but I'm glad I let go of that goal. I think maybe once a week is a bit more reasonable. 

I also think as much as I want to do it all. Balance is crucial, I really need to remember to take breaks and recharge.

It's nice to be home, spend some time with my friends and reflect on life. If you just work nonstop, one day you'll be done and you won't even remember how you got there. That's often how I feel about my time on Teen Wolf. It was just so many hours, nonstop filming and it all happened so fast. Honestly, when it ended, I didn't even realize it had been a few years. It felt like I had just started filming the show. I wish that I had taken moments to really reflect on the experiences and enjoyed the experience while it was happening. I feel like that's also what happened to me in college, I was in such a rush to get out and so stressed with all the school work that by the time I left, there wasn't much I remembered from my college life. I was never in the moment.

That's probably my only regret.

But these days I'm actively trying to be very present and in the moment. Instead of just thinking of all the things I need to do or going through the motions of life. This blog has actually been very helpful, it's like a diary that helps me process my thoughts and appreciate the day to day.

I've been a part of my worship band at church for the last 9 years. It's kind of one of the few things that no matter how tired I am, I love to do. It refuels my soul and gets me right back on my feet when I'm feeling exhausted. Last night we were jamming, preparing for Sunday worship and even though it was just a few hours it helped me recharge.

So no matter how busy you are, find something that helps you refuel. We're a little more complicated than machines, we need more than just sleep and food to keep going. I know I need my community, friends, encouragement, love, time alone and my relationship with God. Figure out what it is you need to have balance.

Don't rush through life, regardless of how stressful and difficult your life may be. Enjoy the experiences both good and bad because it's just a chapter or a season of your life and it'll pass before you know it.

I know it sounds cheesy but stop and smell the flowers every once in a while and remember just how amazing and beautiful this life is. I've been noticing the flowers blooming when I'm walking Chewy and it's nice to take a moment just to say thanks for even a simple flower that smells nice.

Photography by Robby M & Daniel Jang