My sister is getting married and she's pulling quotes from Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I've collected her books since high school and recently came across a quote that made a light bulb go off in my head:
Whether we're trying to be supportive audience members for horrible performances & shows, or trying too hard ourselves -- in conversation, in presentation, on-stage, or in life -- the energy it takes to do that drains us. We walk away from great films and shows and conversations with people fed and full of energy. We're being authentic. We truly liked the performances, or the story or the people and the conversation.
"You heading to Llandudno?" asks the older man sitting on the only bench at this stop. I'm traveling alone throughout Europe and today I'm in Wales. The signs do not make any sense to me. They must be in Welsh and it's obvious I'm out of my element. He's a retired engineer and he's from London but he's headed to the same hostel as I am. A total stranger -- but we're both authentically ourselves and the conversation flows until we get to the hostel. We're energized as we talk about life, countries, travel, cultures, politics, people and end up having a pint at a nearby pub before saying good night.
These authentic connections are what I most love about travel. It doesn't even have to be someone I know. They're honest. They're simple. They don't take effort and afterwards it feels like I've eaten a whole dinner. I'm not hungry.
It's junior high and I'm on-stage pretending to be a cop. Working really hard at it. If I'd only known then that the harder I worked at it the harder it would be for anyone who was watching to enjoy. It's the secret to acting that's not a secret. The thing all acting instructors tell you to do -- be. To be truly and authentically sincere and honest as you play.
Anne Morrow Lindberg's quote clarifies these moments in my life and reminds me that life is too short to spend in insincerity.
"You heading to Llandudno?" asks the older man sitting on the only bench at this stop. I'm traveling alone throughout Europe and today I'm in Wales. The signs do not make any sense to me. They must be in Welsh and it's obvious I'm out of my element. He's a retired engineer and he's from London but he's headed to the same hostel as I am. A total stranger -- but we're both authentically ourselves and the conversation flows until we get to the hostel. We're energized as we talk about life, countries, travel, cultures, politics, people and end up having a pint at a nearby pub before saying good night.
These authentic connections are what I most love about travel. It doesn't even have to be someone I know. They're honest. They're simple. They don't take effort and afterwards it feels like I've eaten a whole dinner. I'm not hungry.
It's junior high and I'm on-stage pretending to be a cop. Working really hard at it. If I'd only known then that the harder I worked at it the harder it would be for anyone who was watching to enjoy. It's the secret to acting that's not a secret. The thing all acting instructors tell you to do -- be. To be truly and authentically sincere and honest as you play.
Anne Morrow Lindberg's quote clarifies these moments in my life and reminds me that life is too short to spend in insincerity.
