Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Curtis Bodiker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Curtis, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
It comes from my community and choosing to see the beauty in the world wherever I can find it. Life will always be filled with challenges and things we cannot control, but some lovely things about being human are our ability to change our perspective and connect with each other to achieve something greater than we could on our own. We cannot avoid pain or hardship, but we can recontextualize our hardship to have a deeper meaning and choose who we lean on when when a challenge inevitably knocks on our door. Knowing these things give me hope, no matter the circumstance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hello! My name is Curtis Bodiker, also known by my stage name Sebastian Vain the Singing Pirate. I am an Musician, Actor, and Educator based in Denver, Colorado who is passionate about Irish Folk music, pirates, and creating memories through my performances. I have performed in various renaissance festivals and bars around Colorado and New Mexico over the last 3 years, and I recently released my first album, “From The Depths”, on CD and streaming services. I am also excited to announce that I am a featured performer for “A Night In Tortuga”, an upcoming interactive pirate experience at the Mercury Cafe in Denver.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I were to pick three things, I would say they were having courage, being openminded, and improvising. I had to be brave enough to go after the things I wanted, open to feedback and new opportunities, and prepared to change the plan when things inevitably went off the rails. If I were to give anyone advice, I would say be brave, make a plan, and go after the things you want. You will never know if it is meant for you if you never try, or what you are capable of if you don’t push yourself.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take a break from whatever work I was doing in that moment and indulge in one of my other hobbies. Sometimes that looks like going for a walk or hike, other times it’s playing some kind of game. Whatever it is, the goal is to take my mind off of whatever is overwhelming me for a little bit. Once I am in a clearer headspace, I remind myself that I don’t have to solve all my problems at once and then make plans to tackle them in the order that makes the most sense.
When I am extremely overwhelmed, I go visit my loved ones. My family, my community at the faire, people I know love me and can help remind me of why I do all the crazy things I do in the first place. Knowing they love and believe in me gives me the strength I need to survive almost any challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://curtisbodikerperformance.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-depths
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtisbodikerperformance/?locale=id&hl=af
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Curtis-Bodiker-PerformerEducator-100085796517286/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTFFdnB0ViP-slYqbgF22Ug
Image Credits
Ingrid Wilson
Matt Harvey
Rudy Ortega
Bella Lewis
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