Last night my "commune housemate", Jen thanked me for DVRing American Idol so she could see Lee DeWyze sing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen (see February 5th blog). I said, That's funny, I just thanked Ellen DeGeneres in my journal for getting me to watch American Idol in the first place, so I could witness the transformation of Lee from shy paint store employee who had a passion for music to a performing artist who is now regularly releasing that passion onstage for all to see and hear and feel and share. Look at all the joy he brings to others just by doing and sharing what he loves. (I'm sure he was doing it at home, but who knew? It's the getting himself out there and sharing it with the world that took heart and courage and we can all see the pay-off, not just to Lee, but to all of us who watch and listen to him, too.) I feel so strongly on about that point that I wrote a book about it (still haven't found an agent who will read any of it--so I've put the querying aside for another while and I'm working on some children's books and a novel).
Everything comes in its own time. As I've said, I'm not really a big TV person, but shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance that've been around for years, but that I am only just now starting to watch, inspire me and keep my faith alive as I pursue my own dream. I feel such a deep connection with the singers and dancers and their quest to do what they love for a living. It's too bad they couldn't do a show like that for writers. By nature, we tend to be more reclusive so getting us to read our pieces on a stage would be a stretch--not even factoring in that it could put the audience to sleep early on in the auditions.
No, those of us wanna-be-writers will just continue to write, to query, to enter contests (that aren't televised...or even known to most)...maybe blog once in a while. And always we will know that we are writers, even if we've never published anything, even if we are still earning our living as a medical supply manager, as a teacher, or as a stay-at-home-mom. We will work hard at our craft because it brings us joy to do so and because of that, we will know that someday, if we truly believe, we will earn a living from that joy and share it with others--Just as surely as Lee and Crystal and Casey and Mike from American Idol will.
In the meantime, we will be awed and uplifted beholding the singers and dancers in the final episodes of these shows come into their own and live out their purpose. Hopefullly, they inspire not only other singers and dancers (and writers), but any person who has thought about following their dream. Any of us can do it. No matter what it is, no matter who you are, no matter how scary or crazy it sounds to yourself or to others--just do it anyway. And live joyfully.
