"The Happiness Two-Step" or Follow These Two Steps and You Will Be Happy

Having reached the Half-century mark I have learned many things the hard way.
At this point I am confident in offering the following:

THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS

ONE: FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.

(If you are even remotely like me-you don't even really know what it is. The best I have been able to muster is a strong suspicion based on the constant programming foisted upon me by the materialistic society I live in.)


TWO: DO YOUR BEST TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS.

People around you right now are in pain. They need comfort, hope, help to the restroom, a ride, a sandwich... the list goes on and on. No matter where we are in our own struggles we are in better shape than others in some way.


Of course a Spiritual attitude helps with both of these steps. But even if you don't believe in a Higher Power-(An overlying All-knowing Force of Love and Law.) These two steps will work.

And by "work" I mean they will bring you PEACE.

And PEACE = HAPPINESS

God Bless-
Later,
Paul Parducci

Paul Parducci: The Naked Truth!

I was listening to KFI here in Los Angeles the other night and they had the excellent Actor/Writer Fred Stoller on talking about his new book- which I will link at the bottom.

Fred was discussing the life of a perennial Guest Star in Hollywood. (Something I have some experience with!)

It takes great courage and candor to discuss the actual workings of a career in this business where most of the time Brand Management is the top priority.

In any event Fred's take on his work inspired me to do a little reflective thinking. I'm usually the kind of guy that's always looking forward.("What's Next." Is my Motto)  My career has never overly impressed me. But I do Love to Act and still get a kick out of being on sets and working in front of the camera. (And Hope of course springs eternal! I will  get to my experience with Pilots in another post.)

Although I've been lucky enough to have worked frequently, many times with interesting parts in association with very talented artists, I always felt that this kind of work-a-day Hollywood stuff was kind of boring. The life of a Character Actor (And I'm proud to call myself one) is more a life of usefulness to projects rather than  being the heartbeat of a project itself. (I'm seeing at this point that I will have to explore this  at length in another post also or we'll be here all day. See I already think you're bored.)

Anyway-at one point Fred mentioned Guest-Starring on The Naked Truth this is a show I Guest-starred on as well, playing one of my mainstays a bully named Doug Keller.  (So I went to the script pile I keep in the corner of my office and pulled out my script from somewhere near the bottom.) Flipping the pages brought back  fond memories of this experience not the least of which was meeting the fantastic character actor Norman Fell  and working with the charming, beautiful and whip-smart Tea Leoni. The episode was also directed by Robby Benson. (Who I found to be unusually gifted in getting to the kernel of scenes-not easy to do in the fast-paced world of Sitcoms.)

I have enclosed a pic I had snapped with Norman as well as the cover and cast page from the episode I Guested on.

 

Here is Fred's book.

Later,

Paul Parducci

The Irreplaceable John Keel on David Letterman (1980)

I was fortunate enough to have met the man.
Here is an interview from 1980.

Later,
Paul Parducci

For more info go here.

Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz, "The Wise Advocate" and You are NOT Your Brain.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Aeschylus: On Gaining Wisdom

“He who learns must suffer;
and even in our sleep
pain that cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
and in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
by the awful grace of God.”
― Aeschylus


Considered the father of Tragedy

PS: He also said:
“Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.”

Later,
Paul Parducci