Guy coaching actors Elean Puell and Caleb Van Loon on set.
by Guy Camilleri
7:00 am:
The candle is lit, the palm trees are in view, and the music is queued up. This way of anchoring marks the beginning of my morning meditation. Twenty minutes later with intentions set, I shift into a series of morning stretches to facilitate the surf session to follow (which I’ve previously written about here on Yo! Venice).
The act of morning meditation combined with stretching is a great way to springboard myself into being of service to those in my life and staying in tune with my body and imagination for whatever type of play the day may offer. Whether it is surfing, writing, yoga, collaborating with colleagues, paddle-tennis, acting, weights, coaching, time with my significant other and our dog, Blaze. It’s important to me that I continue to create a way of living where the act of being of service and simultaneously at play are, for the most part, one and the same.
I would like to state that this a kind of wisdom that comes with age, however and at times, unfortunately, it wasn’t always that way for me! Actually, this way of being is a matter of trial and error along with the ongoing practice of recalibrating. At present, it seems to be working, so my approach has become rather pragmatic. If it ain’t broken, just leave it alone, Guy.
In addition, I appreciate the teachers in my life that have been (and are) of service to me and for setting examples of a what a life of service and at play looks like.
What does it take to experience a life of service and at play? For me, it starts by living a creative-conscious life. My creative-conscious life consists of being of service to actors, writers, and directors and as an actor and poet. While being of service is true, mostly I find myself in a state of play because the lines keep blurring between what is commonly referred to as work and then after work.
A few tools that assist me are the effective use of time, noticing/listening and the practice of living in the moment, moment-to-moment as much as humanly possible (gotta keep it light along the way, right?). These practices may lead to finding what it is you love to do, which then may lead to discovering ways to manifest this newfound love to become your life, right now.
Guy Camilleri is a Venice-based actor and acting coach. He teaches regular classes on Wednesday nights at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. For details email guy@rawactingstudio.com. Follow Guy on Instagram @guycamilleri.
