Denzel Washington is much more than an actor, he’s a cultural icon. With hit movie after hit movie, the 63-year-old Washington has won two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, a Tony Award and is worth over $300 million and continues to work harder in his sixties than any other time in his career.
In his early twenties, Denzel worked as a garbage man and a postman simultaneously to make ends meet. He had to wake up early, have a set routine to get out the door and make it happen each and every day. Washington told the Hollywood Reporter, “You have eight hours worth of work, but you can do it in three. Then you come back home. Post office, you have three hours, and you can make it Class A. I did both. I liked being the garbage man better”.
Back then, it was simple: get up. Go to work. Come back home. Repeat. Even Denzel’s breakfast choices are simple.
“I like a good omelet. When I feel like being a slob, I love french toast,” says Washington. “But I like a great omelet. And I like a simple breakfast, a little diner, with bacon and eggs and hash browns, some real good greasy funky hash browns, a little OJ, a cup of coffee, I’m good.”
Starting out, when he was just trying to pay the bills, Washington’s morning routine was much different than it is now, or was it? Over the years, whenever Denzel is asked about accomplishing his goals and being a success, he usually alludes to what we can do each night and every morning to make it happen. He does the same in this video:
Back in 2012, he said something very similar.
“You can do it. But take responsibility. Put your slippers way under your bed so when you get up in the morning, you have to get on your knees to find them. And while you’re down there, start your day with prayer. Ask for wisdom. Ask for understanding. I’m not telling you what religion to be, but work on your spirit. You know, mind, body, and spirit. Imagine—work the brain muscle. Keep the body in tune—it’s your temple. All things in moderation. Continue to search. That’s the best part of life for me—continue to try to be the best man.”
“True desire in your heart, for anything good, is God’s proof to you, sent beforehand, that it’s yours already.”
We all have dreams. But at some point in life, we compromise. We take jobs we hate to have a certain social status. We stop believing in our dreams. We settle.
Denzel Washington says that your dream is already yours. You just have to work for it. Whether you call it God, energy or anything else. It keeps tugging us inside. This is God’s way of showing you the right direction.
Believe.
For more Denzel inspiration, check this out:
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