Part of not updating as much as I’d like to has had to do with how darned busy I’ve been. And it’s not just me, it seems like everyone around me lately has been very “Go! GO! GO!” with their lives.

I mean, I had two days off this weekend, and still don’t feel like I’ve relaxed at all.

I suppose all of our lives get this way once in a while.

I do have a couple of observations that I think are worth recording, though, from my own very busy “Go! GO! GO!” month. Not necessarily questions or answers, here, and not necessarily useful for anyone but me, just observations and musings that I want to remember:

1) It’s interesting how differently people view being “professional”. I, for instance, don’t think that yelling, belittling people, disparaging people, being petulant or being demanding is very professional. Working with people who like to work that way starts off as infuriating, then it moves to entertaining, then it just becomes boring and you’re ready to go back to playing with the grownups.

2) Art is good for you. It’s also not an easy thing to make a living at. Not just the whole “Gosh, sometimes it’s hard to pay my bills” kind of living, but also the “Gosh, sometimes I’d like to spend a day at work and not be second-guessed by every Tom, Dick and Harry who can speak the English Language” kind of living. It’s also funny that one of the good things that happens to you, in that environment, is that you develop a thick skin. However, it’s interesting because that can also be one of the bad things that happens to you – if you’re not careful, you stop paying attention to the people around you in the name of “having a thick skin”, and suddenly you’ve lost your connection to the art, the scene, the work, the world.

3) I’m not a big fan of generalizations, especially when it comes to people, but I’m starting to think that a warning sign of impending doom is when someone I’m supposed to be collaborating with says to me “Well…the way I work is this…”.

4) Keeping things simple is still, far more often than not, the best thing…and also one of the hardest to do.

5) Sometimes a nice catch phrase, that you can just say to yourself quietly in your head, is all you need to help you make decisions during the day. For instance, in Flap, playwright Annie Martin has given me this little gem that I hope to carry with me forever: Less bullshit, more awesomeness.

6) When someone is busting their butt for you, or for a project you’re involved in, remind them often how much you appreciate them and their contribution. Sometimes all any of us need is a nod and a smile of recognition.

7) A good, soft shoe insert, like the Dr. Scholl’s “gel cushions”, can change your life.

8) Once in a while, stop what you’re doing and just play some board games and some tether ball with your kids. Let them win one out of 3 times.