Chop wood, carry water…
With Broadway and regional theatre companies starting to open up again, there does seem to be some more hope in the air (even in the midst of the still-terrible news cycle). However, for many artists including myself, this can make the desire to get back in the game even more excruciating. A lot of us are simply waiting for the gigs to pop up again, and any gig not gained can smart even more pointedly than before. We’re still living life in limbo.
So, how does one cope? Honestly, it’s hard. There’s no way around that. But an Eastern proverb keeps coming to my mind lately: “Before Enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.” I may be a bit free in my interpretation of the proverb, but I read it as the work is always the same. I still have shows to write and songs to compose, whether the activity in the world around me is buzzing with new life or not. And as difficult as it is to sit myself down and write, that’s my job, that’s my work.