Follow Your Arrow

Happy Monday! As you start out your week, I want to ask you: ARE YOU FOLLOWING YOUR ARROW? What does that mean, Alicia? Good question! Read on and I’ll explain!

Superbowl Sunday was a pretty eventful day. Seahawks destroyed the Broncos in a game where everyone thought they would lose, despite Peyton Mannings embarrassing loss, people still acknowledged how great of a season he has had, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman died of a drug overdose at a mere 46 years old (RIP).  I started to wonder: what do I want to be remembered for? What legacy am I leaving behind?

As I pondered over this, I came to the conclusion that I want to be known for doing something great. And the only way I can do something great is to do something that I love and “follow my arrow.” Listen to the song. It’s good! For those of you who can’t stand country music (give it a chance! Apparently, country music is the white man’s R&B!), I have written the lyrics to the song at the bottom of this post for you to read.

Why do I love this song so much? I love the message. DO YOU. Follow your arrow. Follow your bliss. Do what you want to do.  As we all have experienced in life, there are ALWAYS—and I mean ALWAYS—gonna be haters and people who don’t approve of what you are doing. Why focus your attention on pleasing those people when there are far more people out there who support what you do? And to go one step further, who care what ANYONE thinks of you because all that really matters is WHAT YOU THINK OF YOURSELF. Life is short. So, do what YOU wanna do. It’s your life. Live it the way you want to live it.

STORY TIME: After I got out of high school, my mom decided that I was no longer going to sing and dance and do theater. It was just a hobby to get you through the my and daddy’s divorce. That’s what she said. Being the dutiful daughter that I am, I went to college and started studying international business (because I spoke 4 languages and was gonna pick up another 3 in college—I’m Asian, what do you expect?!). I tried to do it her way for freshman year. And let me tell you, I was MISERABLE. I was bored, I hated all my classes, and the only thing I did like was my marketing class because my classmates would always pick me to do the presentation (yes, I sold my products like a star!). After a year of hellacious boredom, I decided to try out for the mainstage play. Fuck it, right? If I got in, great! It was a sign from the universe that I was good at this acting thing and should pursue it. If I didn’t get in, then fine. I’ll continue along my path of spreadsheets fulfill my mom’s dream of me working for the U.N. or being a translator for some rich business executive. Kill me now. So, I went and auditioned. And I got in. WHAT?! I was beaming. I knew this was my calling, so I pursued it. What did your mom say? Did she approve? Haha, no. My mom FLIPPED OUT. She screamed, “What are you gonna do?! Play all day?! You not gonna make any money in acting! Is too hard!” She was right about one thing: it was going to be hard. It’s still hard. But you know something? I couldn’t imagine doing anything else in my life than to use my artistic talents to tell stories and make people happy.  My mom yelled at me constantly about my rash and childish choice.  But when she saw me perform the lead role in a musical on the FOX Theater’s stage (the big theater house in Atlanta where all the big shows perform when they come through town), she was giddy with excitement. She video taped the whole thing from her front row seats (don’t know how she got away with that), and was beaming with pride. Afterwards, she congratulated me on my performance and declared, “I knew you should be acting from day one! You always shine on da stage. Ever since you were little, people always say, ‘Your daughter so talented! I can’t take my eyes off of her!’ Listen to Mommy. Act more. Mommy always knows best!” I just looked at her and laughed. I love her so much and was so thankful to have her support.

She was my toughest critic and even she became a fan. Not because she was my mom, but because she saw how much singing and acting made me so freaking happy. I believe that happiness is the “X-factor” or “je ne sais qua” that we all see in those A-List celebrity stars. They love what they do and follow their arrow. And it shines through in this unexplainable way. It’s magical.

So, WHAT’S YOUR ARROW? What makes your heart sing? If you love acting, THEN ACT. If you love writing, then WRITE. If you love singing, THEN SING! The only way to truly make great work is to do it from a place of happiness. And if your passion or bliss has changed, that’s okay! It’s never too late to start a new path. So, if you now want to produce films or direct them, then star doing that. If it’s becoming a yoga teacher and spread the yogi peace and lifestyle to others, then do that! Whatever it is, follow your bliss. You’ll be much happier. Once you start following your arrow and really love yourself, people are going to notice and they are going to shower you with so admiration and respect. You’re lovely. Own it.

SAY YES TO THE YING: What’s your “arrow?” What is your passion? What makes your heart sing?

Rock the Love,
Alicia

#yestotheying

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"Follow Your Arrow"

If you save yourself for marriage
You're a bore
If you don't save yourself for marriage
You're a horrible person
If you won't have a drink
Then you're a prude
But they'll call you a drunk
As soon as you down the first one

If you can't lose the weight
Then you're just fat
But if you lose too much
Then you're on crack
You're damned if you do
And you're damned if you don't
So you might as well just do
Whatever you want
So

Make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

If you don't go to church
You'll go to hell
If you're the first one
On the front row
You're self-righteous
Son of a-
Can't win for losing
You'll just disappoint 'em
Just 'cause you can't beat 'em
Don't mean you should join 'em

So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

Say what you think
Love who you love
'Cause you just get
So many trips 'round the sun
Yeah, you only
Only live once

So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's what you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, I would
And follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points