My list of new year’s resolutions is quite long but
I hope to stick to them (well, at least half). Wonder what other people choose for their resolutions? Here is a list that Marilyn Monroe wrote out in her address book in 1955. She was studying
with the Actor’s Studio at the time and her resolutions show that she wanted
to make the most of it. The last one, “enjoy myself when I can—I'll be miserable enough as it is,”
seems so sad in retrospect.
Must make
effort to do
Must have the
dicipline to do the following—
z – go to
class—my own always—without fail
x – go
as often as possible to observe Strassberg's other private classes
g – never
miss actor's studio sessions
v – work
whenever possible – on class assignments—and always keep working on the
acting exercises
u – start
attending Clurman lectures—also Lee Strassberg's directors lectures at theater
wing – enquire about both
l – keep
looking around me—only much more so—observing—but not only myself but
others and everything – take things (it) for what they (it's) are worth
y – must make
strong effort to work on current problems and phobias that out of my past has
arisen—making much much much more more more more more effort in my analisis.
And be there always on time – no excuses for being ever late.
w – if
possible—take at least one class at university—in literature—
o – follow RCA
thing through
p – try to find
someone to take dancing from—body work (creative)
t – take care
of my instrument—personally & bodily (exercise)
try to enjoy
myself when I can—I'll be miserable enough as it is.
From Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters by Marilyn Monroe.
