The Mouths of Babes

I am not good about blogging. I mean to be. I plan to be. I want to be. In general, I’m not great about taking the time to do stuff that I want to do when I’m at the computer. I check Facebook a little, sure, but I’d say 90% of my time at this screen is spent doing work for other people.

There’s a self-indulgent nature to blogging — an assumption that if I write something, someone will want to read it. Or, worse yet, I think there’s a perception that bloggers are somehow egomaniacs who need to share their private-most thoughts in a public forum. 

So, label it (or me) what you will, I am going to plan on sharing more in the coming weeks and months. Let’s see how it goes.

[End of prologue.] 

I’ve been a little blue lately. 

Things aren’t quite lining up the way I’d like them to — finances, acting jobs, etc. Frankly, it happens about once a year, but this year it struck earlier than usual and hit me a little harder. I think it’s a trap of this career I’ve chosen to pursue. Being an actor (or anyone in the arts) means that your career is forever at the whim of others. People talk all the time about “rejection,” but I’ve never felt rejected in my life. What I have felt is unworthy or undeserving. 

And that’s a lot worse than being turned down (“rejected”) for a gig. 

So I’m working on that stuff. Therapy. Yoga. Affirmations. (That’s right — “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough…”) Then last night, my sister Tracy sent me a poem written by my niece Emily. Who is 12. TWELVE. I thought I’d share it. 

The Shatterer

by Emily A. Aubin

As I blitz fast and free
I feel emotion over me, 
and I bound.
As if to the rhythm of a beating drum,
laughter shatters sky,
formerly deep and glum,
a sky of sorrow shatters.

Avoid no water,
shatter silver,
let joy overcome you through 
shattered silver.

Never lose hope to fierce wind,
Run forward and shatter air.
Fight the wind and
shatter air.

When darkness takes you prisoner,
blitz right on and
shatter darkness,
out-blitz dusk,
and shatter darkness.

I mean, c’mon.

Let me just repeat: “When darkness takes you prisoner, blitz right on and shatter darkness.” 

Thanks Emmy. I’m blitzing. 

Comments

[Jean]

Oh that girl! Those relations of yours are incredible. Blitz, indeed! And hoping you skate thru it soon.