"Maddy, if I hadn't had to use my life to figure out my life, I'd have gone into theater."
I say this to one of my best friends, Madeleine. We've been talking about life and lessons and love, which we're great at for hours on end. I'm lamenting how my work, while rewarding, has yet to satisfy the larger creative being who lives inside me and longs for air time.
And she says, "Well, why don't you do a one-woman show about your life? You're articulate, funny, talented, and your story could help a whole lot of people. Create your own theater piece and get it out there with some song and dance!"
And, thus, the play was born. l would further integrate my two worlds of teaching and theater. The new morning routine included a hairbrush microphone as I danced to favorite music, while countless ideas popped. I covered the kitchen cabinets with post-its of songs and stories ... plus possible venues, props, musicians. When I realized I preferred a team over going solo, I invited four great friends to collaborate ... and the play excitedly morphed into a delicious, creative, performance ensemble ... today, a DVD.
So Madeleine, an exceptional therapist, gets credit for the birth. Makes sense. She saw me through many rough times ... of the adult affects of childhood sexual abuse, including what we call mental illness. There was the spiraling decline of the early years, covering hospitalization and homelessness; then the excellent, non-pathologizing therapists and healing modalities; the very hard personal work, non-judgmental support of friends, a mother's unconditional love, a brother's generous financial support throughout; then growing self-care, personal monitoring, increasing gratitude and forgiveness, and ever returning sense of spirit and enjoyment.
Is this another story about how bad things happen to nice people? ... just another tale of triumph over adversity? Maybe. Probably.
Why include it as theater interest? Well ... we sing and dance; we're serious and intentional AND we laugh and celebrate. We're courageous in addressing what is still a delicate issue, and we respectfully put it right out there for everyone to ponder. No secrets, no pretense; instead, a healthy disregard for stigma.
With respect and compassion, we offer options on perspective.
♦ We ask the question, "What is normal?" ... and wonder if "abnormal" is simply so part and parcel of the fabric of life, that it's really ... normal. Everyone has a soap opera, or two, to overcome.
♦ We think needing a hospital to heal mental/emotional damage should be no less culturally acceptable than needing a hospital to heal a broken leg or cancer.
♦ There are gifts inherent in the mental illness experience, and cultural attitudes to reconsider, e.g.: ... Humor is an important avenue to include in dealing with even the most severe difficulties, and ... Healing is realistic for many individuals, an option to offer beyond coping and managing.
♦ War is the outward manifestation of our collective lack of inner peace. Everyone stands somewhere along the continuum of needing greater personal peace.
"Dr. Fried liked working with patients. Their very illness made them examine sanity as few sane people could. Kept from loving, sharing, and simple communication, they often hungered for it with a purity of passion that she saw as beautiful." Hannah Green, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
Every single human being is a teacher, if we're open to learning. Visionaries show up in often unexpected ways.
It is with pride, and a great sense of adventure that you are invited to see the play, "Everything I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned Being Mentally Ill ... and everyone is, at least a little."
