A Different New Year's Resolution

There is nothing in here about weight loss, smoking cessation, or finishing that degree program you've been putting off, but it's still worth reading.

My 2018 New Year's Resolution was to find a way to get back on stage. Yup, a real stage, with lights, music and an audience.

Years ago I was involved in community theater. It's how I met my husband and it's where I met some of my best friends. I missed creating magic. I missed laughing and making others laugh. While I've been scratching my creative itch through work and I enjoy it immensely, there was something missing. There was an element of quirk - the rush of live theater - that I've not able to replicate through work creations.

So I decided to change that and as 2018 opened, I resolved to find a way to get back into live theater.

But who was I kidding - I travel for work, my husband travels for work, we have two kids active in a bunch of sport and activities; how in the world would I manage rehearsal, even if I were to be cast? I looked for an alternative, and it led me to an item on my "bucket list":

Improv!

I found a New Year's Resolution class (I am not kidding!) and signed up. Walking in felt like being the new student walking into a new high school. I felt foreign, uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and I almost walked right back out the door. Eventually, class started, and it was great fun! The following week, I found myself looking forward to Wednesday to get to class. I then looked forward to every Wendesday that month, as I was meeting some amazing people and having a load of fun. I enrolled another class because I didn't want to stop looking forward to Wednesdays. And then another class session, and another and another. I was absolutely hooked and incredibly happy.

When the improv troupe I was taking classes with posted an audition notice in October, I held my breath for a second. It was something I really wanted. I felt I was ready, but was I ready enough? Only one way to find out...

Fortunately, I was one of five selected for second round work, meaning I work and rehearse with them once a week, working on more complicated improv elements and working alongside those that perform each weekend. Hopefully, I'll get a turn on stage myself.

But even if that never happens, improv work has been immensely valuable for me. It's taught me to be in the moment and really listen to what is being said instead of listening to respond. I've learned that taking a second to think about my response is ok. I've learned the value of "yes, and"ing at work as well as on stage, but it's still harder to do it in real life.

Most importantly, it's been a great focus on the importance of collaboration. After all, an improviser's job is to make the other person on stage look brilliant. It's never about you, it's all about your scene partner and making them amazing.

Imagine how awesome work would be if we focused on making our colleagues amazing instead of competing with them, mmm?

So for 2019, I'm resolving to keep improving and keep making progress on my abilities on stage, and land being part of the show!

Even if it doesn't happen, it's improvement, collaboration, and friendship, which ain't all that bad anyway. :)

What are you resolving to do for yourself this year?