Why?

In Chris Johnston's book The Improvisation Game: Discovering the secrets of Spontaneous Performance he starts by asking 'Why':

"Why are we improvising?  Why use improvisation other than tennis, carpet-weaving or opera?
Improvisation tends to be used primarily in pursuit of one of four aims:

• As RESEARCH into ourselves to increase self-knowledge, perhaps sharing the results of this research with others as performance
• For LEARNING better how to communicate with each other, manage emotions or improve life skills
• To understand, manage or reconcile CONFLICT.  This work is sometimes associated with programmes for social change.
• To create ENTERTAINMENT without necessarily any recourse to a higher purpose, unless you see laughing as a higher purpose. which you might."

Which is it for you?

For me, it's all four, and I add one more.

• To have some bloody FUN

Sure, it's implied in the other sentences in the list, but for me, laughing IS a higher purpose.  It's a huge part of who I am, and who I want to be.  
Laughter is so important to us as human beings. 
Laughter is the best medicine.
You can even do a course of Laughter Yoga. Yes, even here in Manchester.
We use laughter to defuse tension, to help ourselves cope, to just cheer ourselves up.
With laughter, we share.
We share important parts of ourselves.

The first time myself and my husband, at that point just a good friend, truly laughed with each other, I knew I wanted to marry him.  We'd known each other a long time, but never really let go and shared that much.
Laughter took us to that next level.

And yes, I met him doing improv.  Go figure.

Do one thing for me today, laugh, and get someone else to join you. x

Finding that first high... again

We all remember our first show right?

And for the most part that huge buzz right after, how the world seemed like a great place, and everything was fun again... your shitty job didn't matter, your failing relationship didn't matter, your crippling debts didn't matter.... or maybe that was just me.

But admit it, that first show was epic.  It may not have been the best show dramatically, but it's up there with one of the most thrilling things you've ever done.

So.


Now it's 13 years later.

The buzz has dwindled.  Sure, you get that high from time to time, but it's never like that first time.  The freebie.  The one that got you hooked.

You get little bursts of joy living vicariously through newer players.  From seeing others find their feet the way you did.
But it's just not the same.

You become placid.  The nerves never come just before a show anymore.  You go through the motions.  You fall out of love.  You fall back in love.  You get stuck in rutts.  You flounder.  You freeze.  You become a loose canon.  You become a steam roller.  You never enter the scene.  You make crazy choices.  You make no choices.  You make shit up.  You still make shit up, but it's just not the same.  You take a step back.

And realise.  You still love it.  The thrill will always be changing, but there's still a thrill there.  Play, play with your friends.

Just play.

....and keep learning.  Never stop learning. It will help you learn to love again.