The Joys of Romanticizing the Mundane: a Practice in the Daily Appreciation of your Surroundings

I think that today's culture regarding how we-as humans-consume, can cultivate within us a feeling of always having to get things done now, to rush about and expects results immediately.  When you're living in a city and surrounded by the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to get caught up in the pace and take the process of...of, things,  for granted. I want my coffee NOW. I don't want to take the time to cook. The commute can seem endless. The constant strain of always feeling like we have to be productive can cause lots of fatigue and stress.

Our lives are so short in the grand scheme of things, and before you know it a day, a month, a year can pass without you even thinking about it. I can't say that I subscribe to the mindset of the toxically-positive inspirational blogger; but many of them do have the right ideas.  Allowing yourself time to take a breath and notice your surroundings can really make a difference when you're feeling overwhelmed. 

As artists, we have to be especially sensitive to our emotional state. In order to be able to do the music we sing justice, it's important (in my opinion) to draw on our own experiences and feelings. The more we notice about ourselves, the more we can make the music we sing (or play) come alive. One of my favorite daily practices that helps me stay sane & enjoy life is to take a moment to appreciate the process of things. For example, I love the quiet moments in my apartment in the mornings when my electric kettle is heating my water for tea up. The quiet bubble of the water, and the sunlight streaming in through the blinds of my ancient window, the smell of the candle I lit to distract myself from the impending doom of doing Pilates....It's the little moments. Once, I took a picture of my lemonade because the sunlight made it look like it was glowing. Allowing ourselves to be in the present moment and just...exist, can not only feel great, but also allow us to notice new ways we can express ourselves. 

Sometimes, allowing yourself to just be can feel incredibly vulnerable. You may feel like crying, or throwing up, or you may feel anxious for no perceivable reason. Sometimes, allowing yourself the time to feel can allow emotions you were pushing down to come up. This is good! It's okay. Fully feeling an emotion is not only a great way to get to know yourself, you'll feel better after, and it can help you heal faster (if it's negative one). Breathing through how you're feeling, and learning to appreciate how you feel can really help you with emoting in a performance environment. 

More on emoting in a performance environment: I notice that when I allow myself to be fully present and not in my head during a performance, is when I give a more memorable one. This isn't to say you shouldn't be thinking and focusing through your show (oh god please keep an eye on the conductor and remember your blocking), but instead of feeling frozen with fear and anxiety, focusing on the flow of the plot and the beauty of the music can really make a performance shine.

  A note: I understand that's not easy. It's really hard. I'm a terribly anxious performer, and while I've learned a bit on how to regulate my anxiety pre-performance, I don't think that will ever fully disappear. It's okay to be anxious. It means you care.  

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To summarize, if you have the luxury of time, take the long way to work every so often. When you're getting out of your car, it's okay to stop for a few breaths to appreciate the warmth of the sun, or the chill in the wind, or the sweet kiss of rain on your skin. Smile at the barista. Maybe there's a new flower blooming on the side of the road where you're stopped for a red light. And then, when you're nose-deep in the translation of that new art song or role, how can you apply those moments? Don't be afraid to use your lived experiences to help you bring your text to life. And, hopefully, appreciating those moments will keep you a bit more sane, too. 

Dear reader, I hope you can feel the sun on your face today, and the breeze on your skin. I hope you can find something, anything, to romanticize, and that that moment will give you a little more peace. 

A picture of a purple-colored Grape Hyacinth Photo by Sarah Antell, @lensgoblin