Oh, hi friends!
I saw two very different and excellent shows over the last two nights—one a harrowing and beautiful musical, the other an intimate story told in a living room—and walked out of both experiences fully awake, full of awe and, most importantly, inspiration.
To aim higher.
To refine.
To be real.
To do the work.
It reminded me of the difference between being entertained through distraction, or being entertained through feeling.
We are entertained all the time through videos or memes or banter. It ends. We move on.
But how often do we feel? To say, I am different now than I was moments ago?
And isn’t that the goal?
Maybe you needed the reminder like I did.
Make something that moves.
Why you should make a list when you feel like you’re not doing “enough”…
“Coming out of the pandemic, I'm constantly saying, ‘Oh, I didn't do enough today,’ or ‘I’m not being productive today.’ And my friends are always like, You did a million things today. I'm like, ‘Oh...I did.’ So it’s good to keep lists for yourself so you're not—I don't want to say it's negative self-talk—but so those thoughts that aren't as positive don't sink in as much. You get to track your progress and then you get to really declare what you feel is productive, which helps me as a person who always feels like I'm not doing enough.”
From my latest podcast episode with Cody Renard Richard, who’s worked as a stage manager on 13 Broadway productions, most recently doing double duty this week on Into the Woods and Parade at City Center.
I loved talking to him on a two-show Wednesday about how he balances his life, his gateway musicals, and where he’s putting his Tony Award (he’s also a producer on A Strange Loop!). But what I appreciated the most was his reminder to reflect backwards on what you have accomplished in a day or a week—it’s more than you think.
Listen to our short and encouraging Do It Today podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, my website, or your favorite podcast platform.
PS — If You’re Trying to Make Something That Moves…
But feel like you’re falling short, remember “The Gap,” as described by Ira Glass. Your skills will catch up to your taste.
Just wait…and work.
I believe in you.