I was finally able to watch “Up In The Air” recently. I was really gripped by this tale of a man who loves his nomadic lifestyle and finds connections through the strangers he meets through his work. He enjoys the solitude and loves living without attachments (both emotional and physical.) The people around him cannot understand what the allure could possibly be, and see him as some sort of emotional degenerate. But in his work, he is compassionate and thoughtful and makes a difference to those he meets across the country.
Kind of sounds like an actor, huh?
It’s hard for me to describe why living an actor’s lifestyle makes me happier than being stable and secure. I worked for many years in the corporate and non-profit sectors, made oodles of money, and felt like I was selling my soul (even though the companies I worked for had great working environments.) There came a point where I knew I couldn’t do it anymore, and I gave up the steady paycheck, phenomenal benefits, and support system for a life with infinite possibility. A life where no day looks like any other. And even though it is sometimes hard financially, and sometimes I have to apologize to friends I don’t have time to see and these relationships suffer, I think I am a better human being for living a life that makes me happy.
I feel proud and lucky that I have been able to live a completely empowered and free life - running my own business as a career coach and being a professional actor allows me to choose my own adventure, day by day. I worked really hard to get here, building a skill set in business & marketing that allows me to call the shots. But I also feel lucky that I had parents who championed my innovative nature and inner fire and pushed me to be everything that I could be.
Very lucky...
Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has toured nationally with plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. For more information, please visit http://www.erincronican.com.