Take a bow? After every act!
This week, we lost an iconic Irish-American writer and teacher. Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela’s Ashes (which is on my recommended reading for everyone) was one of my favorite writers. He had that rare quality and wit that could turn tragedy into hilarity and still make your brain do some work.
In response to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s belief that there are no second acts in American life, McCourt said, “I think I’ve proven him wrong and all because I refused to settle for a one-act existence.”
I believe that over the course of a lifetime we should not only strive for a multi-act existence, we should play as many characters as we can as well. At 25 years old, I am so many things with so many interests, that I can’t label myself anymore. That’s an amazing thing. Labels and categories put you in a filing cabinet in alphabetical order with all the other one-dimensional characters, failed plots and single-act plays no one is reading.
So how do you avoid a one-act existence?
- Make that huge leap you’re overthinking. Hold your nose, close your eyes and jump!
- Volunteer someplace life-changing- an animal shelter, a home for the elderly or special needs children, you can even teach poetry to prisoners (which is actually on my list).
- Don’t settle. Go forward, always. If you’re not happy, get out and change your situation even if it means starting over from scratch. Be brave and daring!
- Set big goals and work toward them. Even if you never get there, you’ll still have a great story and experience. And if you do get there, you get to celebrate a new chapter and an incredible accomplishment.
Rest in peace, Frank McCourt. Thanks for being a inspiration and sharing your stories with all of us.
