I once posted a "This I Believe" essay on my Facebook wall about going to funerals.
In it, a woman talks about how if you're a person of good character, you go to funerals. You go to them because you never want to go to them, and it's almost always a selfless act because of the fact that you don't want to go and you do because it makes someone else feel better to have you there.
In some ways, theater is like this.
People always comment that I see a lot of theater. The truth is, I barely ever want to see theater.
Oh don't get me wrong, I love theater. I get excited about shows. I talk about it constantly.
Yet, the night I have tickets to see something, I'm usually tired, hungry, moody, had a bad day, forgot there was something I wanted to watch on tv, or I just don't feel like getting off the couch.
In those instances, I make myself go anyway.
Because usually there's someone I know in the show. Oh sure, it's also enriching for me personally, but more than that, I'm there because whoever happens to be onstage needs me there. They need the support, and the energy, and in some cases, the laughter.
And, similar to funerals (or the gym), I always feel better after I go.
Don't get me wrong--I've skipped my share of shows. I've pulled out the same excuses that everybody else has: Money, work, overslept, etc.
The truth is, I find we're always able to somehow do the things we want to do for ourselves, yet rarely ever do we find time to do things for others.
Theater is an opportunity to do both.
How can you go wrong?
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