Positive Thinking

I am about to embark on a four week career development program which is suppose to help me decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. Do I want to switch careers or do I want to rediscover the one I have been involved in for the past 40 years? Hmmm quite a life changing decision.

In reading some of the information sent I was introduced to two mindsets to navigating your career. One was fixed mindset which is the belief that your ability is ingrained. We are born with a level of ability and there is little we can do to changed it. The other is growth mindset which is the belief that your ability can be developed by hard work. We may be born with certain abilities but we are determined to find different ways to expand our world.

I took a test to see which mindset I was and not surprising to me I was overwhelmingly categorized as having a growth mindset. I have to admit I have a tendency to think that I can’t do certain things. I try to talk myself into being satisfied with what is but the voice in my head keeps reminding me that I can do better if I just push a bit harder.

I was in Paris and had an appointment with a photographer to show him my book. I was new to the city and was having a hard time getting my bearings. I couldn’t seem to find the location of the studio and kept walking in the wrong direction. Of course I didn’t speak French and the Plan de Paris was no help what so ever. My fixed mindset told me to give up and go home. But my growth mindset kept telling me that if I went home I would not go back out again. My determination to find the studio pushed me to achieve that goal. It took me another hour but I finally succeeded. The outcome wasn’t earth shattering but knowing that I had achieved even that small goal was everything. I would not let my mind dictate my outcome. I was determined to find my way.

I have taken that determination through my life and I know that is one of the reasons why I have had a good deal of success in my career. Not always wildly successful but enough to know that in facing the setbacks I have gotten better with effort. I have taken risks to step out of my comfort zone and because of it I have seen places and had experiences that have made my life richer.

So why now am I having such a hard time deciding what direction to go in for the rest of my journey? Part of me says to relax and rest on my laurels but that person that was determined to find my way in the vast city of Paris so many years ago is still inside me. It’s maddening at times to have a growth mindset but to be honest I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better. I do believe I have been changed for the better. And because I knew you I have been changed for good.”

Ok, humor me. I am on a Broadway run through this pandemic as I find it makes me happy especially when I’m singing along and dancing. Yes, I look ridiculous but no one else is here but me and where I live is social distancing heaven so my neighbors aren’t disturbed. Believe me, being home so much can be trying in the best of circumstances. I’m so grateful for having my home.

The latest hurdle is when to open schools. The quote from Wicked is for the teacher or teachers who came into my life and saved me. In high school, I had William Penman as a drama teacher. He was so passionate about the arts so much so that he arranged for the drama class from a Cincinnati, Ohio public school to see Marcel Marceau. Marceau was undisputedly one of the best mimes who ever lived. He created an entire world on an empty stage challenging our imaginations far beyond our world.

Mr. Penman knew he needed to expand our minds past what we thought was possible. That’s what good teachers do. They show us what is possible and then let us decide where we need to go in our lives. That is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Our teachers are this world’s future so yes I will get up on my soapbox as much as possible to defend them.

I taught university for seven years and it was some of the happiest days of my life. Not only did it give me the opportunity to learn what I needed to teach but also knowing that I was hopefully helping my students create their future world. I know they helped me create mine. They gave me the hope and courage to take chances I didn’t believe I could do on my own.

I still use the lessons my teachers taught me and love the fact that I am still learning. It gives me the energy to move through each day. To be able to sing, dance and studying. To create and listen and watch all of the amazing teachers that are available right now.

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them. And we help them in return. Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true. But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you.”

For Good. Wicked

In all of this pandemic, I am always looking for something that is uplifting and makes me smile. I love the New York Sunday Times book review where I learn so much information about people I would least likely read about.

Last week I read about Loretta Lynn in the By the Book section. It’s a very popular column where they ask the author out of the ordinary questions about their writing. The column definitely has its pretentious moments which makes this interview with Loretta all the more enjoyable. And finding being too pretentious myself when it comes to writing, I found her real refreshing.

It was discussing Loretta Lynn’s new book “Me & Patsy Cline Kickin Up Dust”. I am not a big country-western music fan and would probably never in a million years pick up this book even though I know about Loretta Lynn. But in reading about her philosophy about life I think I may have to git me one.

When asked how she organizes her books she replies, “Heck if I know. They’re all over the place.” Sounds like someone I know. Very well…

Her favorite booK? “The best book I ever got was my family Bible my husband Doo gave me in 1966. It means the world to me. My daughter downloaded a dang vampire book on my Ipad. It was nasty as heck and rated X. I made her remove it.”

Gotta love a country girl who speaks about the Bible and a dang X rated vampire book in the same thought. My kind of gal.

Asked which three writers, dead or alive, would she invite to a dinner party? She said she wouldn’t. “You build people up in your mind. I want to keep the stories as is and not know the ins and outs of their work.” How many times have we built someone up to be disappointed when they are nothing like what you thought they would be? Much like in life.

But my favorite quote was this when asked what book you were supposed to like and didn’t? In that matter of fact, down-home, pure and simple country way, she replied, “Self-help books make me crazy. Seems like everyone wants a quick fix. My advice is to go outside, hug your child, and thank God you got to see another sunrise!

Yep, I’m becoming a country-western fan after all. As one country-western song says, “There’s dust on Mother’s Bible.” Not in Loretta’s house. Her Bible, I’m sure, has a special place all by itself and she knows exactly where it is.