acting

my latest adventure has been diving into acting classes. i decided i needed to get a jump-start on my retirement plan of being an old lady actress. think Betty White, "where's the beef" lady, "i've fallen and i can't get up" lady, Cher's grandpa in Moonstruck. the fun stuff. i think it's a brilliant plan and could be the most important career of my life.

but that's a little way off, so in the meantime, i'm learning the ins and outs of what it means to put on a character. after only 8 weeks of the basics and improvisation, i already see how this acting thing can get to the best (and worst) of you. it's a practice of presence like i've never experienced before. being in the moment and allowing your authentic self to play out while "embodying" someone else is mind-blowing. i've seen parts of me and of humanity exposed in the process and it's a very beautiful thing. sometimes disturbing, but always beautiful.

so, i'm finding that acting requires taking off shame, not being afraid to make a fool of myself, opening to every possibility, listening deeply to my heart, and not shrinking from intimacy. life lessons across the board. not easy, but much appreciated. so i'm moving on to the level two class in the new year. yay!

a friend recently commented that i participate in a lot of "self enrichment" activities. this made me laugh, but alas, she's correct. i hope i'll be enriching myself from now to eternity. what's the opposite of that, anyway? self un-richment? no thanks. and i hope you, reader, will enroll yourself in whatever class, workshop, meetup, community, etc. that will bring enrichment to your life. i think un-richment must suck.

"to be or not to be. that IS the question."
sending love...