What do I find compelling?
This is a question I've been asking myself frequently these days. Instead of pushing myself to be all these things at once, what if I approached the world by letting myself be pulled toward the things that compel me? It's not about being the opera singer I should be; it's about being the artist I'm called to be.
What compels me?
* Strategic and collaborative games.
* Social and interpersonal connection.
* Kittens.
* The smell of coffee in the morning.
* Romantic music.
* Dark and complex characters in theater and opera.
* Artful comedians.
* The Shawshank Redemption, anytime it's on TV.
* Naps.
* Big glasses of water when I'm thirsty.
* Exquisite haute cuisine.
* Delicious home cooking.
* Cheese.
* Helping others.
* Organizing other people's objects.
* Color coding my closet.
* Bottles of nail polish and tubes of lipstick, whether or not I put them on.
* A cute pair of shoes.
* Elegant jewelry.
* Framed beauty in museums.
* Open, expansive beauties in the outdoors.
* The ocean.
* The night sky.
* The moon.
* Mahler.
* Singing Bach.
* Mary Oliver's poetry.
* Eavan Boland's poetry.
* A beautifully set dinner table.
* A tidy and inviting living room.
* A clean kitchen sink and counter.
* Fresh cut flowers.
* Serving families during funerals.
* Stories of unexpected heroism.
* Gestures of unprompted empathy and kindness.
* Dancers of almost any style.
* Party and wedding invitations.
* British drama.
* Traveling to a foreign country.
* Massages and soaks in a Japanese wooden tub.
* Purring.
* A well made bed.
* An organized and tidy closet.
* An uncrowded, organized bookshelf.
* Time spent with family.
* Date nights with Chuck.
* Playing video games with Chuck.
* Working through multiple performances of the same opera or concert.
* Singing pieces off-book for the first time.
* Audiences. Audience energy.
* Stunning churches.
* Charming historical fiction.
* Fantasy worlds.
* Naps.
* Playing Sondheim pieces for myself on the piano.
* Listening to all the music I enjoyed in my college years and just following.
* Singing to top 40 hits with great abandon in the car.
* Listening to other artists talk about their process.
* Proper breathing. Meditation.
* Evening gowns.
* Recitals, mine or anyone else's.
Whoops. I inadvertently listed "Naps." twice. I guess this should come as no surprise.
What compels me?
* Strategic and collaborative games.
* Social and interpersonal connection.
* Kittens.
* The smell of coffee in the morning.
* Romantic music.
* Dark and complex characters in theater and opera.
* Artful comedians.
* The Shawshank Redemption, anytime it's on TV.
* Naps.
* Big glasses of water when I'm thirsty.
* Exquisite haute cuisine.
* Delicious home cooking.
* Cheese.
* Helping others.
* Organizing other people's objects.
* Color coding my closet.
* Bottles of nail polish and tubes of lipstick, whether or not I put them on.
* A cute pair of shoes.
* Elegant jewelry.
* Framed beauty in museums.
* Open, expansive beauties in the outdoors.
* The ocean.
* The night sky.
* The moon.
* Mahler.
* Singing Bach.
* Mary Oliver's poetry.
* Eavan Boland's poetry.
* A beautifully set dinner table.
* A tidy and inviting living room.
* A clean kitchen sink and counter.
* Fresh cut flowers.
* Serving families during funerals.
* Stories of unexpected heroism.
* Gestures of unprompted empathy and kindness.
* Dancers of almost any style.
* Party and wedding invitations.
* British drama.
* Traveling to a foreign country.
* Massages and soaks in a Japanese wooden tub.
* Purring.
* A well made bed.
* An organized and tidy closet.
* An uncrowded, organized bookshelf.
* Time spent with family.
* Date nights with Chuck.
* Playing video games with Chuck.
* Working through multiple performances of the same opera or concert.
* Singing pieces off-book for the first time.
* Audiences. Audience energy.
* Stunning churches.
* Charming historical fiction.
* Fantasy worlds.
* Naps.
* Playing Sondheim pieces for myself on the piano.
* Listening to all the music I enjoyed in my college years and just following.
* Singing to top 40 hits with great abandon in the car.
* Listening to other artists talk about their process.
* Proper breathing. Meditation.
* Evening gowns.
* Recitals, mine or anyone else's.
Whoops. I inadvertently listed "Naps." twice. I guess this should come as no surprise.