Finding the Light

One major sinus-infection, one threat of financial collapse, and one whirlwind family visit later, Beautiful Dreamers is now open, and I couldn't be more proud of the great cast, the exceptionally hard-working crew, and both producing partners, the Irish and Classical Theatre and the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh. Hats off to Marty Giles, playwright and director. The feedback has been great, the show has major legs, and now we get to play it until the first of May. If you're in the area and interested you must come and check it out.

And the next show of the season, Othello, is quick on my heels. In the spirit of full disclosure I will admit that I have not quite learned the balance of preparing for one show while another is getting on it's feet. Lots of lower body extremity references here. I start rehearsing for Othello in less than 24 hours, so I have been dutifully pouring over the script whenever I have had the chance. I will play Roderigo, an unrequited suitor of Ms. Desdemona.

So that's the what's on my front-line. I wanna talk, now, just a bit about goal-setting. I have gone back and forth on goal-setting for a long time in my life, particulary because I have set goals and have not found the secret formula to keep myself focused on the desired outcomes. Repeat attempts can be discouraging. However, just a few days ago, I hit a stretch a days filled with unfocused, undirected, discouraging, blah what...energy, I suppose.. On top of that, I was feeling particularly vulnerable because of a bank error I made that put me in the red...the crimson red.

So I had a few credits for some audio books on a great site called audible.com, and downloaded a few inspirational business motivational books, which happens to be a particular weakness of mine. I was reaching for some positive and inspiring material, anywhere I could get it. So I somehow forced myself to do a little yoga, made some tea, and followed some specific directions of a Brian Tracy audio book entitled GOALS. So, I took my sore yoga'd butt to the coffee shop and, as advised, listed my top-ten short-term goals, personal, professional, and financial. And following the session, also as advised, I started writing my goals down, first thing each morning and last thing each night, WITHOUT referring to what I had previously written the day before. This allows you to find just the right wording and structure to make it powerful and real for you, and eliminate any goals to which you truly aren't committed.

As I said, I've done many goal exercises with middling success, but the simplicity and structure of these ideas started a super-charger in my mind and body. And in a few short days, I am feeling more powerful and optimistic again.

So this is my gift to you. This little exercise, and subsequent re-stating of goals. I love it. I think I'll keep it. And at some point in the not-so-distant future, when the goals come to fruition, I'll reveal them to you, and just how they came into being.

In the meantime, stay connected and stay inspired.