intrepide:

Good gravy! I just recieved an email from FutureMe.org that I wrote almost a year and two months ago. My goodness, I had completely forgotten that I had written it! Fearless readers [and by that, I mean the three people who consciously choose to navigate through my ramblings… :)], read on!

“Dear FutureMe,

I hope that you have stuck with your gut and pursued musical theatre as a career. This is what you love…and no one can take that away from you. No one. Don’t ever apologize for the light shining in your eyes when you are onstage. Don’t ever let others bring you down. If they are, then you know that you’re doing something right: you’re standing up for what you believe in. Haters gonna hate, HAHAHAHA. Wow, did I just forget that I’m 19 and no longer 12? Hmm…

1) You have talent. But you have nothing to prove: only something to SHARE. So share that voice, girl! Share that humor! Live a little! Dance dance dance! Walk around town with a song in your heart. Life is too short to be grumpy and pessimistic. So be BOLD! Be passionate! Step out onto the stage, dear.

2) You hide behind your characters —— so STOP. At the end of the day, choose to be STRONG. Choose to be vulnerable. Take a chance on love again. Stop analyzing all of the romance out of your relationships.

3) Trust that He has a plan for you. He WILL fulfill His purpose for you. You are an ARTIST, and you were made to glorify Him with your many talents. Opportunity meets readiness. You cannot always control the opportunities, but you can control the readiness. So, study your craft, take it seriously. Do every play, every showcase, or musical you can get. Swallow your pride. Be willing to work for nothing in things you think are stupid. Make work for yourself. Make your own luck. Don’t complain. Hopefully, the work will find you if you are ready.

Remember, the success is not always in getting the part but in the seed that is planted.

P.S. I hope that you still love whiskey. But keep dabble in other kinds of alcohol so that you won’t be completely inept when you finally move to NYC and attend all those cocktail parties. Time is ticking, honey! Your parents love you. Your siblings [tolerate ;)] you. Your friends support you. So take the leap! :)

Always remember: People will roll their eyes when you tell them what you do. You have to develop a thick skin – without becoming jaded, guarded or cynical. That’s a tall order. Your voice is small, but never, and I mean NEVER stop singing.

Your past and hopeful self,
Chloe Q. Payne

P.S. I believe in you. Go get ‘em, tiger.”