In an extended showing of Diamond Head Theatre’s Tootsie, I had the recent pleasure and privilege of watching a former colleague blossom before my eyes. I had known him through his former job, and didn’t know he was a thespian until he appeared on stage, aglow with light and song. As an added extra, it’s tradition for the cast to greet the audience outside after each performance.
My friend ran up and embraced me so tight he almost lifted me off the ground. “You were amazing!” I exclaimed, astonished at the transformation that had taken place in front of me. His eyes sparkled and his smile beamed as he explained how he loved it when friends who didn’t know he was an actor, saw him perform for the first time.
He said how he had recently changed jobs to something which better suited him. I couldn’t believe how much it showed! He was always friendly, but now, he was positively glowing, and his energy was palpable. He was a whole new person! One of my favorite games is to ask people what they would be if they could no longer do what they currently do for a living, and money was not a factor.
I’ve found that most who truly love what they do have a hard time answering, as if they’d never thought of it before. People who love what they do have a gleam in their eye; they resonate on a level that is contagious and makes you want to be around them, or just be like them. You’d be hard pressed to find many things more inspiring than watching passionate professionals in.