WHEN IN DOUBT, TURN TO THE WORK.

A reminder of the healing power of art.
By Geoffrey Kidwell (actor)

Well people, I woke up this morning having absolutely no idea what in the world I should blog about. I haven’t watched any fun YouTube videos lately.

(That's not entirely true, actually. This one has been slaying me lately.)

This is Scarlet taking a tumble.

I’m still looking for the meaning of life. And I don’t think you want to read about that gnarly growth on my right foot. (Kidding…or am I?)

When I started writing for Crazytown (almost two years ago?!?!), I worried that I wouldn’t have much expertise to share. I feel like, as an actor in New York, I’m no more equipped to be giving out advice than any other person. As a result, I promised myself – and you, dear reader – that I would write about the one thing about which I know more than anyone else on the planet.

Me

Here’s the problem though: I believe in honesty. I believe that the more honest we are, both in our work and in our lives, the better off we’ll be. The more successful. The more satisfied. The more loved. And the more loving.  

The problem with this way of thinking is that every so often, if you’re someone who believes in sharing his thoughts and feelings with honesty, you find yourself in the position of having to decide whether or not to share something that hurts.

You may have guessed it by now, but I’m in that position.

My life has changed drastically since the last time I posted.

My boyfriend of six years and I decided to go our separate ways. I’m not going to go into details but suffice it to say that it was amicable and mutual. He remains my best friend on the planet and I want nothing but good things for him.

So while I’m not going to go into the details of how/why our relationship did not work out, I am going to give you a little insight into how I’m dealing with my our situation.

I have learned over the last few weeks how healing art can be.

As professionals, living and working in New York, we often forget the power that art, music, performance, etc possess.

A beautifully composed song can transport the listener to a different place – bringing a smile to a face that has been caught in a frown or a healing tear to eyes that have felt tired and dry.

I have tried over the last few days to fill my time with things that make me feel – and not necessarily happy.

A massive break up can be a shock to the system. It can make a person feel almost frozen.

Connecting with a beautiful work of art changes all that – at least it has for me.

I suppose what I’m trying to express is a new-found realization that, while we spend our time trying to get the next job, improving our abilities as artists and doing great work when we book the job, we ought not forget the genuine power that the work we do has to transform, to teach, to heal, to lighten, to challenge, to…

You fill in the blank there.

I hope this post has not been too self-serving. I hope you all have gained a sense of the headspace I’m currently occupying, but more importantly, I hope you have been reminded that, when going through a personal struggle, the best thing to do is to turn to your work; to your artistry.

It won’t heal everything, but it will dull the pain a bit and remind you that there’s hope.

Namaste.

 

AND NOW...THE WEEK IN WHITNEY HOUSTON!!!!

Let's face it...nothing makes me feel better than listening to Miss Houston sing her face off. Such joy. Here she is, in a sparkling business suit, singing, Didn't We Almost Have It All. Simply the best.

 

GEOFFREY KIDWELL Geoffrey is an actor/manny in NYC. He spends his days just trying to figure it out.
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Comments

[David Davila]

"Think of how to use it
Use it on the stage
Think of Katherine Hepburn
Think of Gerry Page

Think of all the feelings
Wasted on this creep
Think of how you could use them
Think of Meryl Streep"

break ups always make me think of this song from FAME... turn to the work. Good advice.