Thank You!

Good morning!! I slept in today because yesterday's triple header of amSati@33rd, pmSati@CC and Sondheim@LC gave me the sort of excitement-induced insomnia I haven't felt in a long time! Everything went brilliantly (thank u for the emails!), I slept in and it is a NEW day now, yes!

In this month's intenSati series, we close the upper body section with the action GRATITUDE which involves doing classic aerobics arm circles with a steady jog in place (option to kick your own butt or raise high knees!) and we say the affirmation "THANK YOU" in call and response style 8x.

Whenever I am feeling most off kilter, one of my mentors always reminds me, "Go to Gratitude" which is not always the easiest choice but the one that's proven most effective for me! Gratitude is like a 7-11 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and I can take a trip to that convenience store instead of staying in the story of how life is inconveniencing me...

Even yesterday, after I found my way into whining while at my day job, I got in what felt like a rickety sailboat to navigate the choppy waters in the direction of gratitude. What helped the most? The first was I told myself I am getting paid for down time between gigs. Then, I imagined myself connected to all the New York performers who do what they have to do to make some money -- I know Broadway singers who also wait tables on the side and performers who temp in between shows at the Met. This is part of the journey and as we say in class, "Thank you for it all!"!!

There is power in recognizing you're part of a community. At the Sondheim Gala last night, when I was walking in, this man starting talking to me. He very casually asked me, "What show are you in?" and I was like, "Ummm, this one!" He told me he's in SOUTH PACIFIC. :) Then, I ran into my friend who is in HAIR and she introduced me to a few of HAIR's cast members. I've never even been in a musical before (except for West Side Story in 7th grade, I was a Shark and had one line during the "America" which was...."Compatible color!") but because I LOVE musical theater so much and last night managed to successfully perform with a couple hundred of NYC's brightest musical theater artists, I realized that I AM part of that community, too!! AMAZING feeling!!

So, I guess the focus of today's post is GRATITUDE and COMMUNITY!! Woo hoo, sing it!! You can always choose gratitude. It may not be the first thing that comes to your mind but it is so worth it and I invite you to think of an image that you can associate with being grateful, sort of like a reference point to help you reconnect with that space inside of you. Maybe it's the Sun. Maybe it's 7-11. Maybe it's someone in your family who you love more than words can say... as Woody Allen titled his (very funny) film:

Whatever Works!!!

When it comes to COMMUNITY, in addition to the ones you normally feel a part of (Sati!) I encourage you to go find one that you maybe never felt like you can join but you want to (DESIRE) feel a part of! You might feel a little bit like a party crasher -- How did I get here?! -- so if you do, enjoy being that little mischief wonder!! There are so many communities in NYC where I live and we are all also connected in cyberspace. I realize there are a gazillion ways to feel connected to others with a common PASSION!


Closing thought: I go to gratitude which is available at all times! I am aware I am part of many communities with shared passions that are greater than myself!

Have a lovely day!! :) xo, Lindsay