Sometimes (okay, most of the time), we get caught up in all the thinks we need to do. Have to do. Haven’t done. Want to do. All the lists and things we haven’t accomplished. Here it is the middle of January, and I already feel like I am behind for the year.

Then, I had a breakfast meeting. With myself. That’s right, I shamelessly went to the diner next to my San Jose apartment and had a party of one. The place was alive with the 49ers v. Saints game viewers and there was a great energy. The waiter was really nice. So I ordered my french toast and got down to business. I wrote down everything I had accomplished already this year. There was no list making of things I need/must/want/should/have to do. Just the things I have done. It was a time to applaud myself, not criticize. And here is what my list looks like (with a few additions after my meeting):

Books I’ve read: The Hunger Games, A Director Prepares by Anne Bogart, The Tao of Show Business by Dallas Travers, Endgame by Samuel Beckett

Movies I’ve seen: Beginners, Midnight in Paris, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, The Iron Lady, The Artist, A Better Life, The Descendants, and the fourth season of BattleStar Galactica

I’ve committed to a new media project with an incredibly inspiring friend.

Applied with the union for my own web series.

Created and committed to this blog (!)

Reached out to start a collaboration on yet another new media project.

Had a great phone call with my agent about my New Year’s goals and how we can work together to make them happen.

Scheduled a head shot session with the great John Ulman.

Toured the Winchester Mystery House (something I have always wanted to do and it is SCARY)

and am opening Double Indemnity at the San Jose Rep today.

Oh, and I auditioned for a play!

All this and it isn’t even the 20th of January. It was so nice to see (I’m a ridiculously visual person) everything I HAVE done on paper and realize that I’ve actually accomplished a lot. I don’t need to beat myself up about what I haven’t done- I have a whole eleven and a half months of opportunity ahead.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed, take yourself to coffee, lunch, dinner, drinks, whatever you want and have a meeting with yourself. Check in with yourself. Write all of your accomplishments down. You’ll be amazed how far you’ve come.

xoxox,

Jess