This weekend William and I saw Every Little Step, a splendid documentary about the casting process for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. I loved it and I cried. Sobbed, in fact. William asked if I wanted to leave. I think it’s hard for men to understand “good tears.” These were super-tears. I was blubbering all over myself because the way those incredible dancers wanted those roles (“I really need this job. God, I need this job…”) awakened in me how much I want what I want in life, which is to get my message out in a huge and wonderful way.
I know there’s the theological argument about the Buddhists’ “Desire is the root of all suffering” and the 12 Steps’ “Praying only for knowledge of God’s will for me and the power to carry that out,” versus the incredible surge of life I felt in that theater. I knew in my very cells that I am going to go for my dreams with every ounce of physical vitality and spiritual stamina I can summon until that dream manifests in all its fullness.
And what if it doesn’t? That’s out of my hands. I’m in the action business. God is in the outcomes business. I just know that today I’m showing up for my “audition” (i.e., the day at hand) and giving it all I’ve got.
Now, I get a great deal of inspiration out of Broadway musicals. If you’ve read “Your Charmed Life” for any time at all you know that. I think in lyrics. They move me. Other people are moved in other ways, and whatever moves you—nature, art, ritual—please: get some today. It’s important. And if, like me, musical theater makes you happy as can be, check out what happened when Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp was piped into a Belgium train station:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBepgH00GM. Warning: If you’re not where you can get up and dance—well, you’ll probably get up and dance anyway. (Thanks to Patti Breitman for sending me this clip.)
Last minute reminder: If you’re in NYC, please come to the launch (a little talk by me, followed by a book signing) for Living a Charmed Life: Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day, tonight, Monday, May 4, 7:30 pm, at Barnes & Noble, 65th & Broadway. Oh gosh: I’ll be on Broadway! And I can’t even carry a tune….
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