Love for Whitney

In the middle of running my lines, notes and staging for Obeah Opera (the production I've been incessantly posting and talking about), my thoughts pulled me away from that place and onto the death of Whitney Houston.

Wow. It took a couple days, but her passing is actually just hitting me now.  When a celebrity dies young, particularly female musicians, I selfishly begin to think of myself because I endeavour to be on a similar path.  Of course, I'm referring to their upward paths, not their downard spirals. So many bright & successful talents suddenly lose focus and sanity for reasons us 'regular' folk never seem to understand. Why is that? What happens? How does it happen? As an artist who's getting deeper into her purpose and expending more energy into the performance industry, I often stop and wonder about these things. If I could talk to the ghosts of Whitney Houston or even Amy Winehouse... what would they tell me to look out for? What would they warn me to steer clear of? Do they have any regrets about their success, or even their demise? Why did they die so young?

I'm trying to stay balanced, but being an artist is like jumping off a cliff. Meaning, something a 'normal' person wouldn't do voluntarily. As an artist, you pretty much sign up for financial and emotional instability. But the hardship is endured in exchange for a life of PASSION and PURPOSE! Sharing my soul through a talent I've been blessed and entrusted with is incomparable to any other feeling I've had in this world. Trust me. The rewards are as great as the challenges are steep - this is why artists do what they do. And why they'll risk almost everything else to continue doing it.

I just pray that as I continue to do, I won't forget to be. I endeavour to BE healthy, present and whole in mind, body and spirit. The more we take care of ourselves first, the more we'll have to give.

Whitney... thank you for sharing your heart and your gift with us. You sacrificed much and we love you for it, even if we didn't always extend that love to you when you needed it most.

Rest In Peace,

xox

The image that always comes to my mind when people say
 "Whitney Houston".  So beautiful... regal & serene:

One of many rich, authentic performances by this Goddess:

If you have never performed on stage before, watch her closely in this clip... imagine how it would feel to hold and deliver all that power to so many people. Incredible! She's sitting down and she's still sweating for God's sake! Just giving, giving, giving of her soul! I live for this!

PEACE at Home

I just made a "Tweet" about doing laundry and feeling blessed. Simultaneously. A seemingly insignificant triumph, but still a triumph after all.

I'm grateful for any moment of positivity these days. Not because these days have been especially hard, but especially challenging. There's a difference. I see "hard" as being something immovable. Frozen and without life. But through challenge, comes movement... comes growth... comes change. The letters are even embedded inside. Challenges bring forth change and I can feel myself going through a significant one right now. And I know this change will be a triumphant one.

I'm being pulled and stretched in rehearsals for Obeah Opera, the first professional theatrical production I'm having the pleasure of being involved in (when you have a moment, do click on the link, this opera is worth singing about). Like other musicals I've been in, there's vocals, dance steps & staging to learn but this production has called for much more. Because the story is based on true historical events and because that history is mine, makes for a heavy and steep learning curve that's difficult to bend around at times. But what amazes me, is that I do! With every curve, I'm sharpening my sword... preparing for battle... getting firm and ready to conquer the next challenge ahead.

With legwarmers and a pashmina as my armour, ginger tea in my flask and a 200-page score in my arms, I am a storyteller. And with some pain, I'm getting better at it every day, with every rehearsal. Shit, I'm getting pretty damn good :-). And it's even more amazing to watch it happening with everyone else in the cast as well.

I could say so much more, but I really am doing laundry.  It's my one day off this week from play rehearsals  and I'm appreciating the peace at home. I love a good challenge, but today I'm also gratefully embracing the familiar pauses in between. This... I know how to do :-).