I have always been loathe to let opportunities pass. My philosophy has always been that one should do as much as possible, and there’s usually always time for one more commitment. A person can always finish everything if he just sleeps a little less. It turns out that last statement is not true. Sadly, as I’m now nearly half way through my twenty-thirteenth year, my body is insisting I be more realistic about scheduling. As much as I believe one needs to keep several irons in the fire in order to succeed, especially in this freelance gig and entertainment industry wannabe existence I’m living, I’ve found myself writing three letters in a row turning down an opportunity or lessening my commitments.

I started working with a new student today. He is one of those rare kids who really wants to learn. His past has been downright frightening, but he’s made a decision to turn things around for himself and wants to do intensive study this summer to make up for years of missed educational opportunity. It stands to be pretty darn fulfilling for me, plus it gives me a lot of hours of work I wasn’t counting on, meaning summer doesn’t have to be as lean as I was hoping.

The downside is that taking this gig conflicts with my writers’ group meetings. I really like this group I joined earlier this year. It was actually somewhat competitive to get into, and everyone involved takes writing very seriously. But e-mail number one tonight was letting them know that I need to back out of meetings with them for the rest of the summer, even if it means they want to drop me as a member. Eeek! Here’s hoping they don’t want to.

Meanwhile, I have been talking to a tutoring company that places the teachers for a couple of Jewish religious private schools in Beverly Hills. I would be responsible for a couple of high school classes each afternoon, guaranteeing me a solid chunk of hours at a very decent wage. At first they liked me because I have a degree from a fancy school and classroom teaching experience. Once we met, though, I think they were at least as interested in the fact that my physical size could intimidate the students. It seems that last year the kids at this all-boys school went through several teachers, and a firm hand is the key ingredient for this year’s hire. I’ve worked in private education for a while now. After a few surgical questions from me about how the school administration supports its teachers above wealthy, contributing parents (simply, they don’t) I became less interested than when talks began. Now that I’m working with my new student, I felt it was time to turn them down.

The third no-thank-you letter of the evening was to a producer who had begun working with me earlier this year on a series of online webisodes depicting workers in a new niche industry. The project fell apart at one point, due largely to changes in his personal life, and we postponed work indefinitely. He wrote to me today suggesting we jump back on board. I like the guy, and the world of the story is definitely one we’ve not seen in pop culture before, but my unpaid, hope-this-works writing time is a precious commodity, and it’s presently already spoken for.

So there you have three letters in a row backing away from commitment. Here’s hoping I haven’t turned away something that would have worked out into a great opportunity. I always hate saying no, but in the end it will be a good thing, since I will need my time for the new online sketch group. Speaking of handing out rejection, auditions are Sunday, and I will at last know who is my new group of friends, and who if anyone gets voted off the island. Can’t wait!

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