Booked by INA

Every Brilliant Thing The Indianapolis Repertoire Theater is currently playing "Every Brilliant Thing"  by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe. I went to see it with my sister as a birthday outing and I was blown away with how wonderfully it was written and acted.  It's the story of a man whose mother is suffering from depression and keeps trying to kill herself. It's about how he copes and is impacted by her actions. As a child he decides to write a list of "Brilliant things" reasons to live in hopes he can cheer his mom on but it comes his own list of reasons to live for himself.  One of my take aways  is that there is beauty all around us in small and big things and that we should always be actively looking for these "brilliant things" that are all around us. Obviously the topic of depression and suicide is heavy here. It made me reflect on the people around me and how I need to be more intentional about staying connected and prov...

                                                                      Birdwings Your grief for what you've lost lifts a mirror up to where you are bravely working. Expecting the worst, you look, and instead, here's the joyful face you've been wanting to see. Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birdwings. This speaks of not having regrets for the things you've lost because in life there's going to be grief and there's going to be joy.  Those moments of grief are what bring you to your present and future. The cycle of life is this there's going to be happy and sad moments but life goes on...

On Children Running Through I used to be shy. You made me sing. I used to refuse things at table. Now I shout for more wine. In somber dignity, I used to sit on my mat and pray. Now children run through and make faces at me. The phrase "never say never" seems really cliche but there's so much truth in it specially the older I get. This piece talks about how things change over time and that change isn't always a bad thing- sometimes change is for the better or change is needed because we need to evolve as people. I used to be shy but now I make speeches and write op eds. My favorite color used to be green but now red calls to me and my fashion style has improved because of it. I used to fear dogs and cross the street when one would approach me yet now I own not one but two dogs. My dogs have given me so many laughs, companionship and love that I would not trade that for anything. Yet 10 years ago I would've never guessed I'd be a dog owner. Moving to Indiana...

A Just Finishing Candle by Rumi A candle is made to become entirely flame. In that annihilating moment it has no shadow. It is nothing but a tongue of light describing a refuge. Look at this just-finishing candle stub as someone who is finally safe from virtue and vice, the pride and the shame we claim from those. What I love the most about poetry is that it's such a personal thing that no one can really be wrong in their interpretations because it's tied to our personal feelings, thoughts and experiences.  A Just Finishing Candle to me speaks of purpose and how pursuing our live's purpose can appear to waste our bodies and spirit just like the candle becomes a stub from it's flame. But it's purpose is to become just flame you and following your purpose will require everything of you. In that moment when you've given it all is when you'll shine your brightest just like the last flame of a candle.