Yesterday evening I went to see the Judith Malina play, “Here We Are” at The Living Theatre. In all honesty, I cannot give you a full rundown. After leaving from the gym all I really wanted to do was lay in bed and not think. I thought that sitting for a play would be a breeze. Instead I was denied the ability to stare blankly at a stage, bedazzled by lights and language. Though I was thoroughly entertained, the nature of the play forced me to be a part of it. At one point, ensemble members pulled audience members from the circle in the round setting, offering materials to make sandals with laces of yarn. It was fun, but it was definitely a play that asked me to think and get involved. “Here We Are” asked the audience “why are you here,” directing us to work together in for the sake of prosperity, regardless of our differences in opinion.
Aside from the message of unity, the play also made me think of the phrase that “he stands for nothing will fall for anything.” Although we have to work collectively, we need to form our own opinions and actively believe in something and get involved within our individual lives. It’s so easy to live life without really living; to live just to survive for the next day, following blindly. But to really live, we have to stand for something and never falter. Even when things are difficult or if someone says we will never succeed or we are lead astray from our path towards our goal, we have to find the strength and courage to refocus and move forward.
I strive to be good and positive, all the while my faults and mistakes are brought to light. I strive to learn more and to grow all the while realizing how much I really do not know and how much deeper I have to go in order to spring new life and inspiration to my daily life. To be better than I am is a simplistic idea, but it is this line of thought that motivates me. I guess simplicity was also in the directive of the play. Because something so simple as making sandals teaches us how to work together. Something so simple as being better and learning continually is the undercurrent of things so much greater. Every goal I set asks me to work towards achieving things I couldn’t have done before.
What is it that makes you continually strive towards an aim, regardless of how many times you fall or how many times you’re told what you’re striving for is impossible? Is it a money motivation? Is it to create? Is it happiness? Is it Love? Is it just to show everyone that you’re stronger than they think? Because if you aren’t striving for something, why are you here?
LiberTeeLove 
My kids, no big shocker there 🙂
hahaha,, mama bear.
I believe that it is always a combination of all those elements; for me money is the least motivator, but I can’t ever say it’s not one. In being into humanity studies and art I would say my main motivator is the ability to have a positive affect on this world; that is to say the work I produce will add to social justice, work against hierarchy, built a bridge. Of course the more I strive to learn and produce these “effects” the more I come to face the limitations to achieve my goals. And it is when I hit the wall, where the real work begins. As minorities we face greater limitations, like you said “things I couldn’t do before”, and I’ve come across individuals who say ” I admire you!” for trying, “but…”, and all I can say to them is “I know what I want, and I know I’m here ..” :))
This week I told a woman her husband was dying, and as I looked into her pain I was reminded why I do what I do, why I wake up every day at 6am to read, and read, and write, Interpret, etc….we are not here forever, so lets make this the best we possibly can. xoxo
Cheers,
Keep on writing.
Lore