by Mandie Mutchie
“You know I’m sick of following my dreams, man. I’m just going to ask where they’re going and hook up with ‘em later.” – Mitch Hedberg

Mitch Hedberg is one of my favorite comedians, partially because he uses observational humor and perspective to make very intelligent jokes. At first, that quote is just a funny way to mock the English language, but as I sat down to write this edition of Lipgloss & Lace, the more I analyzed it, and the more it became meaningful to me.

When someone asked the Dalai Lama what surprised him the most about humanity, he said “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. Then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present, and as a result he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.”

I think for so many people I know, this is true… So many people live for “someday,” or “after ___,” but the question is, what if there is no someday? What would you do today if there wasn’t going to be a tomorrow, or an “after ___?”

How are you making sure that you’re enjoying life now?

You may be wondering why I’m getting so deep in a lingerie/fashion/makeup blog, and the reason is this: June 16th, 2011 was my last day in a classroom as a middle school teacher. Sometime before then, I had decided that I was going to “quit my day job” to focus on something that I really enjoyed. The stress of being a public school teacher in one of the worst districts in the country was negatively affecting my health, and many other aspects of my life. Since then, I haven’t always had as much money as I did when I was a teacher (I like to joke that I went from “Prada to Nada,” though it’s an exaggeration, and I doubt that anyone would call a school teacher’s salary “Prada!”), but I can’t even describe how much happier I am.

I am a model, makeup artist, and beachbody coach. I work out, help other people reach their fitness goals (worldwide now!), and play dress up. For a living.

And yes, as I said, my “for a living” is quite a bit less than it was as a teacher, but the exciting parts are that I am just getting started (now that I can devote much more time to it), and that there’s no limit. I don’t get a raise every year, but I get a raise as I get better, as I push myself harder, and as my name gets “out there.” And I don’t think I’ve had a bad start – I’ve done makeup on a couple professional athletes, an Academy Award-winning musician, had my makeup on national television (ABC/ESPN), had a national magazine cover, and booked my first billboard in the third largest city in the United States! As a beachbody coach, I’ve helped people get back to what they weighed before college, before they had their babies, before they met their spouses… I’ve helped people’s blood pressures go down, as well as cholesterol and pants size. Most importantly, I’ve helped people make positive changes in their lives. And as a model, I got to go to ILS, where I launched my own lipgloss line, and meet some of you! What more can I ask for there?

All kidding aside, Mitch’s joke is a lot more than what you’d get if you took it at face value… Especially once you know that he overdosed, and didn’t necessarily get the chance to “hook up with (his dreams) later.”

So what’s stopping you? How can you move closer to living each day like it’s your last? Just yesterday, (which would’ve been my last day of school if I had stuck with teaching), I was on a beach with an amazing photographer and gorgeous model, being as thankful as I am every single day for the support of my family and friends, and the courage to take the leap to follow my dreams. I just wish I had done it sooner!

What’s your dream? How can I help you live each day wondering how you got to be so lucky?  

Amanda Mutchie began her professional modeling career nearly ten years ago, and has appeared in many national and international publications, and commercials. Over the course of her modeling career, she worked with many acclaimed makeup artists, learning from them along the way. She eventually became a makeup artist herself and started FaceScape Artistry. Now she works with incredible photographers, models, brides, and other clients to create glamorous as well as natural makeup looks. She also channels her passion for fitness and nutrition and desire to help others into her work as a beachbody coach, and is pursuing her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
For more information on Mandie go towww.MandieM.com, www.facescapeartistry.com, email Mandie at mandelicious@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @mandelicious.  Don’t forget to “like” her pages on facebook, too!  www.facebook.com/MandieLM &www.facebook.com/FaceScapeArtistry www.lipglossnlace.com 
*Photo by Rafal Krolik of Seville Media  

via McPete Sez Newsletter.