Andrew's Daily Notes

I was recently contacted for a media interview that would center around a tap dancer from the older generation. I had knowledge of the person in question, and could have said yes, but there were at least two other people more suited for the opportunity. So, I made the referral.

Referrals are simply the right thing to do. For any opportunity, we should search for the one most suited. The person with the right skill set, knowledge, and connection with the topic. We find that person and give them the opportunity. If for whatever reason they can’t take it on, the opportunity will come back to us.

Our referrals have to be on point. No playing favorites. Get the right people for the job. Otherwise we’re just putting on an air of trying to do the right thing.

No. Find the best person, and do whatever you can to get them in.

Make a world in which my inner child would be happy to come out and play.

It’s not just celebrities, politicians, or YouTube stars, who are public figures. We all are.

Why? Because the context we live in is one of public interaction. When we intersect with another person, we are public. When we are in the line of sight of a child, we are public. When we post anything online, we are public.

So why not act like it? We can all be the people we’d want to look up to. We can all be sharing the ideas that we think will change the world for the better.

We might think that what we do doesn’t have a lot of impact. Our own perspective doesn’t actually matter. What matters is that we know our presence and actions have impact. The scale is not important. The actual impact is.

Burning out is real, and it stinks.

One of the harsher consequences of burn out is the distorted view of all aspects of life. Everything begins to lose its value. There’s no capacity for even the receiving of care. No one can help, no one can do anything, right? Only the burden of whatever has been carried matters. And it weighs heavy.

Burn out is real, and we can get caught in it. But situations change, and corners are turned. In the midst of the pain, we would do well to keep our eyes open for the shift. The friend that wants to support us, the new boss who actually cares, the opportunity we’ve actually been waiting fore. They may be right in front of us.

Just as love may blind us to the bad we see, burn out can blind us to any good that crosses our path.

(and get some rest!)

A piece of technology? An invention? A new art form?

In the world of tap dance, maybe the first time someone put metal on the bottom of their shoes and called them taps it was new. After that it’s just a variation on a theme.

Maybe, the first time some one hit the floor with their feet and called it making music it was new. After that it’s just a variation on a particular form of expression.

Forms are important. They give us context. Innovation is important, too. It provides vibrancy, relevance, and intrigue. But innovation isn’t the only thing that does that. Variation does as well. Look at all the voices in the visual arts world, in the world of music, or in the world of dance. Many voices, much variation, singular forms.

We live in a world that idolizes innovators, to the degree that the value of variation is diminished. Sad. For many innovators stand on the top of a mountain built by accumulated contributions – a multitude of variations. We would do well to celebrate all of it.

Don’t bring your baggage to the children. They don’t need to carry it.

Don’t bring your pain to the kids. They don’t need to feel it.

Don’t bring your exploitation to the kids. They don’t need to be a part of it.

Bring your solutions. They need to see them.

Bring your awesome work ethic. They need to learn it.

Bring your peace and grace. They need to experience it.

The world has enough in it that attempts to derail the lives of children.

Don’t take part in it, at least not in front of the kids.

It’s doesn’t matter how experienced you are, how many times you’ve done something, or how well you’ve done something before, take the time to warm up.

For dancers (and athletes of all levels) this is especially true, as our bodies change daily. But for all of us the ethic of warming up is a good one to keep. No need to jump right into anything. Take a few minutes to check in with yourself, those around you, and the situation itself.

But what if we don’t have time? Find it…at the beginning of the day, in the middle, or at the end. Warm ups can happen hours before we need to perform, and throughout the day. We can be getting ready wherever we are, so that when the time comes (and we often don’t know when that will be) we would have been prepared.

So, what kind of warm up can you have in your day?

There’s something to be said about saying what you mean. Clearly, and without strategy. If you mean to say yes, say yes. If you mean to say no, say no. If you need more information before making a choice, say so. If you want to learn, ask to be taught. If you don’t know something, say, “I don’t know.” You are no more or less of a person for saying so. You’re just being honest.

Your words will resonate with others who recognize honesty. You’ll provide a space where people have to be less on guard than when they talk to others. You’ll be saving their energy. This all really boils down to one thing: being honest. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Nothing more, nothing less.