Have you ever felt like your life has become a blur of work, errands, and appointments? Do you struggle to find time to enjoy your friends or your favorite hobby? Why is that? Why are we in such a hurry? Why can’t we slow down? Could it be that we are running from something unsettled inside ourselves?
I’ve been asking myself these questions lately. What is it that keeps us on the go? And then I got the news that my longtime friend and agent died unexpectedly. I was stopped in my tracks, but only for a moment. Honestly, I was too busy to mourn. That is until I attended his funeral, where it finally hit me. Hard.
John Ferriter and I met twenty-five years ago when I was new to Los Angeles. He was a big time talent agent at William Morris Agency at the time, and I was a young naive girl from the South looking to fit in in the big city. John made me feel welcome. He made me feel safe.
Over the years, we would lose touch, but I always knew he was only a phone call away if I needed advice.
His friends and family remembered him at his memorial as a man who was loyal, passionate, funny, incredibly smart and loved what he did — which was often times bringing people together.
The last few years, we did work together. As agent and client, this meant meeting to discuss job opportunities for me, or work shopping my lofty silly ideas, or just chatting about what’s happening in the entertainment biz. We always laughed. More importantly though, I remember our long conversations about how much we love our dogs, or the way he talked about his passion for music and the band he played in. One thing I’ll never forget is what he told me the last time I saw him.
We were chatting about my new company, Be Kind & Co., and what I could do next. I was frustrated, telling him that I didn’t know what to do and asking him why I always feel such a strong urge to spread this message of kindness. I asked, “Why can’t I just enjoy my life and not have to always be creating and working?” He sat for a second with that comment and then looked right at me and said, “Lu, as long as I’ve known you, which is a very long time, you have wanted to help others. Why push that away?” Then he said, “Follow that urge! You have a lot to say. Trust kindness! It’s who you are.”
Thank you, John. I will trust kindness. I will follow that urge, and damn, I will miss you…
Is there someone in your life who believes in you? Call them today to say thank you. Life is not guaranteed.
