JOT Day 98 - Sylvia the Harpist from Cleveland

Monday, March 28, 2011

JOT Day 98 - Sylvia the Harpist from Cleveland

I'm taking an improv class, and tonight we got our first taste at scene building.

For a few moments, I was Silvia the retired harpist from Cleveland whose children don't visit her anymore because they think she's crazy.

And then I was an expert shoe maker for possums being interviewed on a cable access channel.

It was a ton of fun.

And the guy who usually freezes up because he's trying so hard?

He LOVEd it.

He even volunteered to go twice in that last exercise.

It was amazing to behold.

Going outside your comfort zone almost guarantees amazing things, just because normal is so, well, normal.

It's just that pesky fear that gets in the way.

Or not.

Mar 28, 2011 10:26:34 PM | JOT

3 Comments

I really admire you. I think that's awesome. And as it unfolds, I'm excited to hear more!

Posted by: Joyanddisquiet.blogspot.com | Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Hi Jeff! I signed up for the class for two reasons: one, I know that coaches often require/recommend their clients take it to get them to lighten up in their perspective on life and get more flexible in their responses to what happens; and two, because I want to have that skill set operable for when I start doing my stand-up/performance art thing. The class itself isn't so much outside my comfort zone as much as what I want to do with it later is--that's WAY outside, which is part of the reason I want to do it, ala Eleanor Roosevelt.

Posted by: blissmonger | Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 02:24 PM

"Going outside your comfort zone almost guarantees amazing things, just because normal is so, well, normal." - This seems like such an obvious, vital truth to remember, and yet it's so often brushed aside. Thank you for this! Deb, I'm just curious: why have you signed up with the improv class? For the fun of it? Is it something outside your comfort zone?

Posted by: Joyanddisquiet.blogspot.com | Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 01:41 PM

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