Allow me to introduce myself, my name is John Gabriel, I'm a guy who for the last several years has been in a continual search for meaning and purpose. I finally found it.
Throughout my short life, I've followed my heart and lived life on my terms. It's too short to experience it any other way, right? We're allowed one chance in this life, and I want to live it to the fullest. Living life to the fullest is what prompted me to follow my dreams and passions straight to Hollywood! Straight to acting. And ya know what? I made it. I was "living the dream" for five solid years. After much heartache and rejection, and over the course of several years, I had begun to solidify myself as an emerging player in Hollywood. Acting had become my full time job. I loved it...for a time. 
Television appearances, movies, commercials, and print jobs quickly came. I even booked a pilot (didn't get picked up--thanks NBC!). All of my friends and family thought I had it made. That wasn't the case. I had secretly been dealing with a God-sized hole that couldn't be filled, and I was terribly insecure. Most actors on any given day are wracked with feelings of insecurity and unworthiness. Who knows why...and it's obviously not just actors, it's billions of people walking this earth. But, this is also a large part of the reason actors can accomplish showing emotion in front of the camera. Our whole lives are built on vulnerability, and we are better compensated the more skilled we become in displaying those emotions. Actors are no doubt a strange breed!
But...why did I leave? Why did I give up my so called "passion"? I turned it all in because of this woman. Janice Lee Spriggs. My mother.
In April of 2015, my mom called to share the news that she had been diagnosed with Cancer. I was stunned, shocked and overwhelmed. I had just experienced my best year in acting, and it was all about to come to a screeching halt. Over the next 5 months (that's all it took for the cancer to claim her life), I watched my mom deteriorate, and ultimately take her last remaining breaths in front of my brother and I. We held her hand, assured her that she had been a fantastic mom, then helplessly looked upon as she began to turn yellow. 
It was the most difficult day of my life. It's been two years, and I think about her everyday. Through her death, she radically changed the direction of my life. Thank you mom! I love you even more for that. 
Back to why I left Hollywood...I left because I didn't see the meaning in it any longer. My life had been filled to that point living mainly for only me. My mom passed away at 62 years of age. Young. Sadly, she spent her whole life living in fear of tomorrow. She is the reason I do and don't walk this earth EXACTLY the same way. Oh the wonderful dichotomy of man! After burying my mother, I went back to Hollywood. I took four months off to clear my head, and when I came back- I booked 3 television appearances and a commercial. It meant absolutely nothing to me. My passion for all things Hollywood had evaporated. What I had spent so long cultivating, building and achieving had been completely undone by her sudden death.
Throughout this whole ordeal, I've been gifted in learning more about myself and fellow humans than I ever thought possible. So what did I do? I packed my bags, thanked my agents for all of their hard work and told them it had been fun. I left. Just like that. That was 9 months ago. For these last several months, I have spent hours upon hours studying the human condition, and what makes us tick. I am fascinated by all of you. Fascinated by your stories, by the smiles we all share and the masks we sometimes wear. I want to know what makes you laugh and what makes you cry. I want to know why the same event happening to two separate individuals can produce drastically different results. I want to know why we get stuck in ruts and what strategies we can implement to overcome those moments. This is what fuels me. I am amazed by the human condition and the power of human potential, and I want to serve others. My mission with this platform is to connect and share, to give back to the community in whatever way possible. I hope I can accomplish this.
My other interests involve healthy living, and yes crypto! I was turned on to Bitcoin in late 2015, but unfortunately I shunned the technology. I did however revisit the topic a year and a half later. At that point, I became obsessed with all things blockchain. At the beginning of this year I dove headfirst into Bitcoin and Ethereum. I have not been disappointed. A side mission of mine has been to introduce as many people I come in contact with to the power of this rapidly emerging technology, and how it can deliver things we have only begun to dream about for the future of mankind. I look forward to connecting to my fellow steemers.
Welcome to Steemit! You are going to love it here :)
I wish you the best! Hope you gonna have fun with our community and see you soon.
Thank you! I appreciate the welcoming party. ;)
Welcome
Glad you decided doing what you want to do and escaped a business you didn't like any more. This topic will definitely make up for more good posts about it!
Greets!Love that personal introduction, you definitely qualified for beeing resteemed via @welcoming, where I resteemd promising new users!
I appreciate the resteem. ;) I have lots and lots of saved data in my head about the entertainment industry that would make for great writing. :) Thank you for the welcome. You gained a follower bud. Best.
Wow! You really have a gift with writing. You have amazing thoughts about life. I’m so sorry about your Mom. I know its been hard for you and your brother. Hope everything gets better soon.
Its good that we have another interesting personality here in Steemit. Soon, this account is gonna be big. I’m excited with your future posts. Steem on. 🤗
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words. All is well, and life continues to get better. I look forward to connecting with you in the future. Steem on!
Welcome to Steemit, you will fit in well here as we are all very different but all very caring for each other. I am sorry about your poor mum, remembering the fab times you had together wlll get you through :)
Hi Karen, thank you. Yes, I'm noticing how welcoming the community is and that rocks a smile on my face! Best to you..
Welcome! First off, my sincerest condolences for your loss, from the botom of my heart.
You said
That's a question I have always asked as well - still no answer.
I look forward to reading more of your posts.
All the best.
Thank you, I appreciate that. Everything, everything in this life is perspective. Two brothers both grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father, who eventually took the life of a convenient store clerk. That man is now serving a life sentence in prison. The boys had been only 11 months apart in age, one grew up to be "just like dad": an addict, thief and serving time in prison, while the other lived a completely different and well adjusted life: married, raising 3 kids and stable job. When the boys were asked the question "Why has your life turned out this way", surprisingly, they both gave the exact same answer. "What else could I have become, having grown up with a father like that?" THAT. IS. POWERFUL.
That is powerful.
Perspective comes from where though - I don't think it can be taught, or maybe it can. I don't know. Drive and motivation and values can come from the same family but not everyone takes the same road. Like the story you shared.
I will definitely keep in touch looking forward to what you find in your search.
I am an amateur photographer and I occasionally write blogs here and there, or a short story. People seem to get something from them so I'm glad for that.
See you soon!
welcome!
thanks!
Such an AMAZING introduction.
Anything you need to know about this platform, i'd be happy to help. You would honor me if you follow me at @flashfiction.
see you!
I love your views on life, I'm looking forward to reading more from you. Welcome to steemit.
Hi, and thank you. I look forward to getting to connecting with as many steemers as I can. :) Have a fantastic day!
Welcome to Steemit @jhongabriel
Welcome, brother. Thank you for sharing that personal story with us. You seem to have a great perspective on things.
I appreciate it brother! Thanks.
Very personal introduction and touching tribute to your mom and her battle with cancer. Prayers to you.
Welcome to steemit and much success to you.
Hi, and thank you! Prayers always help. Much success to you as well. This community has been so welcoming. Best to you in 2018.
Loved your post. Welcome to the steemit community. Looking forward to reading more. Following and resteemed.
Thank you very much. I appreciate your words. Followed back my friend.
I welcome you into my world. Your story is truly yours. The study of how humans react to any given happening is amazing and yes very different for each will react differently. No one person is smiling correctly or incorrectly I am just happy when I see them smiling. Love for you
Resteemed to share with my followers your wonderfully written words.
Only one thing is worse than losing a loved member it is losing your mother. I can not imagine the feelings I would have. I do respect your way of dealing with such a imanse loss
thank you, it was difficult...but life truly does go on. She's not suffering any longer from that shitty disease. Best!
We're here for each other, it seems :) battered and bruised but strong.
Yes! I love it.
Best!
Welcome home johngabriel, I wish you the best of luck at discovering the wonderful people on steemit. So sorry for the loss of your Mom. There is something about losing our loved ones that helps make life more rich, appreciating it all the more. Be well.
The support of this community is so welcoming. I'm amazed. Thank you for your kind words, you are absolutely correct--there IS something about losing our loved ones that make life richer and more appreciative. Best to you and yours....
Welcome John.sad to hear the news about your mum. I believe you have better tomorrow. Am glad you are here on steemit. Hope you have a lovely time here on steemit. I upvoted you,its small, but just a sign of my good will.
Am on a contest now and I really need your vote. All you need do is click this link https://steemit.com/contest/@jaynie/the-never-would-i-ever-challenge-3-sports
That will help me win the sports contest. Thanks a lot for your anticipated help. You can join the contest also if you desire. Thanks alot for your helpAnd then upvote my comment @stellastella in the comment section.
I am sorry for the struggle and loss of your dear Mum but it seems to me that her transitioning is a gift from her to you. With your transferable skills set you are poised to do much good in this world I feel and I wish you well on your journey. I am an artist/writer/lightworker and following a spiritual epiphany, about 15 months ago when out of the blue the spirits made themselves known to me, my world/universe view has changed radically. I now know that death does not exist as we generally believe hence my choice of the word transitioning. Your Mum is always with you. I invite you to pass by mine and wish you happiness. Upvoted/followed xox
What a touching story. Man, Hollywood can be an empty place. How strange the directions our lives sometimes take unexpectedly.