Just Because You Are Good at Something Doesn't Mean You Should Do It.
Hi, I’m Reid! I write about my life experiences and how we can all live in brave new ways. Dare You is an entirely reader-supported publication. To receive weekly posts and support my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you should do it. The pressure to do something you are good at but don’t actually want to do can be put upon by well-meaning people who want the best for you. It can also be put upon by yourself.
It’s been a lifelong thing for me, knowing I have strengths and gifts in certain areas of life and choosing not to turn them into a career path, but instead going down a path that lights me up; the path where my dreams lay in waiting, the path that makes me the happiest. My skills and talents are exercised, but just maybe not in the way that people think I should or would prefer I use them. Over the course of my time in Los Angeles, I’ve had many a “side gig” to support myself while I pursue my acting career. Supplemental money to fill in the gaps between acting jobs. You name it, I’ve done it…. personal assistant, party planner, sales, babysitter, worked at an ice cream shop, barista, waitress, sample girl at Erewhon, worked at the farmer’s market, pig sat…. yes, I took care of a pig, a ton of random odd jobs… just to name a few. Over the years, I received countless comments from well-meaning people encouraging me to take certain jobs and create certain career paths for myself, only because I was good at something. The feeling of pure frustration would overcome me. Did anyone understand that just because you are good at something, doesn’t mean you should actually do it?!
When I chose to become an actress,
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