Express Yourself

At a time of great suffering, uncertainty, and isolation, we are all trying to figure out how to cope.  Whether as a professional or a parent (or, for many of us, both), we're all struggling with how to be productive, to make the most of these unusual circumstances for our career and/or our kids.  We've had shared to us that Newton invented calculus while in isolation, and have seen the hyper-organized schedules and curricula our Type A friends have set up for their home offices and family times.  Some of us have rebelled against such hyper-productivity at a time of heightened anxiety, saying to heck with all of this ambition and what we need is to take care of ourselves and love our children.

I consider myself to be, while a critical person, also not a judgmental one.  And I'm trying to extend wide berth for a range of responses to the global pandemic we're all living through.  It's ok to not be ok.  And it's ok to strive for more during this time.  And it's ok to cut ourselves some slack as professionals and parents too.




Strangely for someone who has no artistic talent, I have been thinking a lot lately of the importance of art in building resilience to cope through challenging seasons.  Individually as a family, community, nation, and globe, art is so necessary in times like these.  When we consume it, it is escape, healing, and anchor.  And when we produce it, it is communication, release, and expression.

It is not lost on me that some of our greatest artistic expressions were borne of some suffering.  Whether it is deep internal pain, physical oppression, or political protest, there is something about suffering that unleashes our rawest and most beautiful expressions.

In a recent interview, Ben Platt ("Dear Evan Hansen") was asked about how hard it is to cry and sing through a two-hour production, eight times a week.  He spoke about the importance of self-care in light of such crushing emotional weight.  But he also said that when you cry, you make room in your head which leads to a wonderful opportunity to sing.

I'm not sure I fully understand the physiology behind the emptying of tears and snot making way for glorious singing, but at least metaphorically it really resonates with me.  If this season, or any season, has brought you to tears, I encourage you to cry those tears.  I know I have.  I only hope, for your sake and perhaps for the sake of others who will benefit from your artistic expressions, that you'll also choose to sing.