My teacher read this in Yoga today and it hit me so hard I had to share. I hope it moves you to assess what drives you… .
“It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, ‘Yes.’
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.”
-Oriah Mountain Dreamer
somuchofyouisleftbehind asked: Which role did you enjoy playing more: Elphaba or Nessarose? (Must say I heard some audio of you sing Wicked Witch of The East and it seems you can pretty much sing ANYTHING!) Muchose love from the UK. Hamza x
Loved em both!
somuchofyouisleftbehind asked: As you may know, there are lots (and I mean LOTS) of audio/video of people who've recorded in a theatre. Personally, I would never do such thing. In fact, seeing these videos/hearing these audios makes me yearn to see that specific performer/show as I wouldn't have known about it! What is your view on such things? Do you listen to yourself now and then on Youtube? Does it help you better your future performances? Lots of love. Hamza (UK) x
i watch my current stuff on video, not necessarily on youtube. but yes, i liken it to athletes watching tape. i want to see what works and what doesn’t all in an effort to continually strive to be better…
justwhenthingsgowell asked: Is this the REAL shoshana bean???
indeed it is.
justwhenthingsgowell asked: I was just wondering which of your former WICKED costars you are still friends with today?
many!
kerryingon asked: I ran into you at Jerusalem (I'm the girl who did Fiddler with Harvey) and wanted to ask you this but didn't since I felt intrusive already and it's been bugging me ever since! So, if you don't mind: How/why did you end up in LA? What made you go? Do you ever stop missing NYC? I know I need to go but I'm scared to leave this city, this part of the business & the community of performers here. Thank you for your thoughts & for being an incredible role model! :o)
a lot of things, both personal and professional. You do eventually stop missing NY…until you go back. It’s kinda like an ex you never really get over:)
ksenyagray asked: Hey I met you at the Barre Vermont, we had the Jewish connection. I just wanted to know (sounds cliche) what would be your advice to someone who wants to dive into the music scene but is a little bit scared? Thanks, you rocked the other night. XOXO Ksenya
i’d say ain’t nothin to it but to do it! xoxo
thankyoufifteen asked: Hey:) This is more of a comment then a question, but I just wanted to say that I have been following your career since I saw you in Wicked in 2006 and I think you are absolutely fantastic. Superhero has been my anthem for a long time, and your CD is constantly playing on my computer. You are such an inspiration and I really hope to work with you some day, as I am going to school to become a stage manager or lighting designer. You are awesome:)
thank you so much! i’m flattered and honored:)
singforfood asked: Two-parter, if you don't mind. 1) Is there any news on your second album? 2) Have you thought about publishing a songbook of your music?
1. beginning recording this summer. 2. nope. not yet anyway…