Tomorrow I launch into a new project. Prepping for it has been fun, albeit a little rushed. Still, I’m excited to start!

“Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.” – Richard Bach

Beginnings of projects are always fun – a little nerve-wracking sometimes, but exciting because you can stop talking and planning, and start doing.

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F Kennedy

The first step in a rehearsal process is when you really dive in. That’s the fun part – rolling your sleeves up and exploring the piece, tearing apart the story to figure out what’s making it tick, so you can put it back together again and make sure you’re telling it properly… Easy? No. But worth it.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Alva Edison

And the key, of course, is to dig in WITHOUT letting the pressure of the job/deadline/criticism/second-guessing get to you: this is made possible, I think, by reminding yourself that it’s not about you, but about the story and the audience, and the quest to bring them together.

“The world isn’t interested in the storms you encountered, but whether or not you brought in the ship.” – Raul Armesto