QUESTIONS 'We love them!' (Skype Session 23/09/20)

The skype session last night proved quite an eye opener and reminder for me going into Module 3. although I knew the idea of 'questioning' was important and was really looking forward and excited about my focus group which i held the night before, I think I could have questioned myself a bit more during the focus group and annoated some questions from the participants answers. I am really on a journey since module 1 to 'enjoy the journey' and i think i sometimes want, feel I need answers too quickly which stops we from learning or seeing things that are not directly on my path. "not all those who wander are lost" J.R.R Tolkien What an amazing quote, that really sums up my biggest leson starting this course and being where I am now. it is something that I keep trying to remeber in all aspects of my life and really connects with my line of enquiry 'How to craft a healthy work life balanace as an actor' My practise is me and I am my practise all the time, Actor, Presenter, Probate Specialist (which I currently am), Voice Artist, Accountant, Editor..whatever it is that day/week/month/year. On the idea of questioning - we talked last night about 'Questioning assumptions' which is something that rang quite true to me, that i maybe had not thougth about too much worringly. i think in my career and with 'my set' of people - we are all in similar boats and come from drama school, have had lots of jobs, touring, adverts, bit of TV & Film but are in some ways 'working actors'and could be classed as 'struggling; (even though i hate that word) however here I am assuming this is what everyone thinks. Although this seems to be a normal conversation amongst some actors. It made me realise that I could be putting my perspective onto my questioning too much? Why do I think actors need to find a balanace, do they? My biase is that 'acting' is a hard profession, is it? others may not think so? does it need to be seperate work/life? I think as I have been in ghe profession for a long time and have a lot of colleagues and friends who understand it, I have got very stuck in the way I understand my practise and am strugging to see other views in regards to the 'juggling',lifestyle of an actor. REFLECTONS: We also talked about being curious, and making reflectons AS YOU GO through the course, journelling like a diary; which I use in someways my blog for. looking at things like: How could I help others What I have learnt What I wish I had leanrnt Any habits and patterns Helen posted an AMAZING Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHk_UiQboA&feature=youtu.be 'Eveyone has a story the world needs to hear' by Dave Isay Which is so emotional and heart warming to remember just how important peoples stories are: as an actor that is my job, to tell others stories well. I so often gorget the power of listening and this course and actually COVID and my new job is really helping me work on this... i have to listen to people most days who have just lost someone and discuss there estates, often they breakdown on me or just want to talk about their loved one. It is a privelidge and what i really enjoy about my work at the moment. The art of listening and allowing people to talk especially in my module now=, when conducting interviews is so important, but alos listening to myself and my own questions. Amongst todays society with social media, as Dave dicusses in the talk 'having soemthing pure and authentic' like a true discussion is so powerful.