When The Universe Hands Out Lemons

It's definitely time to make lemonade, particularly in this weather.  Economic times are shaky.  I hear about people losing their jobs, about 600 applicants applying for a single position, about uncertainty.  Uncertainty can be really scary. And here's another reason I love New York City - every one has his or her own verion of a lemonade stand.

People are getting creative; thinking about what they really want to do.  If jobs in a certain field are hard to come by, they're finding new fields.  It's about being flexible and confident in your own talents.  Spending time and energy on a real interest is much more productive than worrying about the lack of jobs.  Plus, you never know what doors may open.

My friend Chris is this energy personified.  Unhappy with his corporate job, he left a few years back.  Unsure of what to do, he knew his skills would take him somewhere.  Six years later, he's worked on numerous video productions (stellastarr* and Muse being my favorites), acted in a number of productions, appeared in ad campaigns and worked on numerous art projects.  His model gives me inspiration.  Of course he's talented and creative, there's no doubting that.  But what really gets him ahead is his confidence in his own talent.  He has faith in himself, and the faith to know that he can tackle any creative endeavor the universe throws his way. 

So it's no surprise he's been getting a lot of attention on the Internet these day.

Chris tried out for the new Bravo Reality show - a casting call for artists in NYC.  You can read his interview, along with twelve other contestants here.

Also, check out the interview (video, no less!) from a recent gallery exhibit in Staten Island. 

So the moral of the story is: don't just make lemonade. Make lemon pie, lemon cookies, lemon ice.  Have fun with it!