You’re doing way more than you think
Oh, hi friends!
I didn't do anything yesterday. At least, that's what it felt like. I did drink one cup of coffee too many (we got a new Mr. Coffee!) and had jittery hands, but that didn't translate into doing anything.
And not doing anything made me feel mopey.
But then I wondered what the facts would say.
So I looked around and accounted for my time and it turns out I sent 29 emails, read a handful of good articles, reviewed the latest version of our next song for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel musical, zoomed to the Upper East Side and to Austin with my friends Danelle and Allison, and thought about starting a new play.
It turns out I didn't finish anything. And, to me, finishing — hitting the deadline, turning over the draft — feels the most like an accomplishment.
When you're in the in-between (in more ways than one), without an end in sight, you miss finality. It's like you're bobbing in the ocean, waiting for a wave to take you back to shore.
But maybe it's kind of nice, being out here? You're still. The waves aren't breaking. You can see the horizon.
And if you look down, you might see that your legs are churning, strong and unceasing, keeping your head above water, your eyes trained on the hot sand, your heart thumping with effort.
Perhaps that can feel like a small accomplishment, too. Because the facts don't lie.
You are doing a great many things.
“Against that history, telling yourself as you shelter in place that now is the time to emulate Newton’s ambition is not so helpful. Not because his is an impossible standard (though it is) but because the real lesson is to remember whatever aspect of your life that fired your passion before this mess—and to keep stoking it now.”
This short New Yorker piece (not an oxymoron!), “The Truth About Isaac Newton’s Productive Plague” was reassuring to read. (h/t Dorie Clark!)
The worldwide cast of Beautiful, the Carole King musical, singing “You’ve Got a Friend” to benefit the Actors Fund gave me chills.
P.S. — If you’re new here, hi! I’m Kara Cutruzzula (rhymes with Methuselah), and I write articles, essays, plays, musical theater, and this newsletter, which floats from my brain to yours every weekday at 7:30 a.m. ET. It’s designed to give a little jolt of creative energy to your day. Please write back anytime — I’d love to hear from you.
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara