Today, I had the privilege of seeing Weird! The Musical! performed at Peaceful Schools (which is an amazing place, btw).
So many things were running through my head.
First, I am, without a doubt, weird. And I consider that a badge of honor.
Second, I have the honor and privilege of working with some incredible humans – talented, committed to making the world a better place, and truly good people.
And lastly, I was reminded of the incredible power of music. It took me back to where I began.
When my parents bought their first house, they bought a piano. I remember when they went to Eastview Mall to pick it out. The rule was that I (and then my siblings) would play piano until we graduated from high school.
I sang in the church choir. I played piano. I started playing the violin – then switched to the flute because it had a smaller case. Music became who I was and where being weird was irrelevant.
When I went to college, I didn’t fit. Big surprise, right? I told my parents I was going to transfer to major in music. Not the best discussion we ever had, but it was definitely the best decision I ever made. I admitted that I needed to travel a different path, even if it was one that not even I understood at the time.
I came to realize that music is bringing what is in your soul to life. And today, as I watched the cast of Weird! The Musical! singing, I was reminded of the power that music has to connect people and to inspire people to be better humans.
As I write this blog post, I am watching a movie called Mudbound, which demonstrates the ability that humans have to be truly horrible. But, Weird! shows that people can be redeemed – that humans are able to grow, to learn, and to change. I think that is an important message for the next generation to hear – instead of the message of blame and shame that my generation heard growing up.
If more people were able to see that being a unique individual as a positive, maybe there would be more positivity and optimism in the world? So, maybe if we were all able to admit that we are just a little bit weird, we could find enough acceptance of one another that we could change the world…