Someone once told me to "be a black belt at whatever you do." In other words, don't just be good or okay - be the best you can be. Not only do I apply that to my work as an actress, but I also went out and got my black belt.
I believe in acknowledging all breaks, big and small, personal and professional.
With my busy schedule, my friends consist of my immediate family and the people I work with!
I did my first play in fifth grade. This same fifth grade teacher asked me several years later what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew the most fun I'd had was doing the play in her class, so when I told her that, she began to take me to local theater auditions and became my mentor and friend, and to this day continues to be.
I was never a cheerleader, but one of my very close friends was, and she is the one that taught me to do my first cartwheel. I always thought they were so talented and focused, and now that I've had the honor to walk in their shoes for a moment, my respect for their flexibility, skill, and resilience has increased tremendously.