We take birth on this stage called ‘ life’, each with a pre-defined role to play. Pre-defined – because it is not for the actor to decide where she fits in the drama and not for the actor to decide which part she gets to play and how long she plays it and whether she gets a role at all or not and whether she enters the hall of fame or the desperate dungeons of anonymity. But it is for the actor to play her own part to perfection, to stay in control of her feelings and emotions while playing the part and in a state of perfect observation of other actors while they play out their roles. Just like in a stage play, your entry into and exit from life is not something one gets to decide on one’s own, but it’s decided by someone else ( unless you happen to be related to or are a trusted friend of the writer and director of the play). Similarly, being a trustworthy of the creator ( nature if you will ) and having faith in the creator can give you a little bit more control on your entry and exit from life( the stage, remember!), as well as the role that you play, the importance of it and how much you manage to capture your audience.
Funnily, in day-to-day life , we assume control of our duties and responsibilities and indulge in our rights and priviledges as-if it’s us who defined our role , as-if it’s us who wrote the script – forgetting completely about the subliminal existence of the writer – the director of our play called life.
She/he (to be referred to as ‘It’ henceforth) is the one who actually breathed life ( not the stage reference here) into our character.
We feel them emotions,yes, but that’s because we all are great actors. So don’t be deluded by the stage-show of others and start writing your own script and dialogue in reaction to their acting.
Just keep playing your own part as much as possible. Let there be dialogue but only as per the script. Only observe the others when they are playing their part – for they are only playing their part. There is no point in sitting in judgement of them. They couldn’t have done it another way. If they decide to go astray from their script, you are not supposed to bring them back unless it affects your next appearance on the stage. When you do bring them back, bring them back with love, because they only forgot their dialogues or forgot their role and forgetting is human. So forgive them and move on further and deeper into the play. Take your own role lightly too because one day the lights, the camera and action will draw to a close, the curtains will be drawn, the play will be over, director will have another role for you. Play your part well now, stay in tune with the director and don’t worry about the audience!
As an actor on the stage of life, while others are playing their part, indulging in the drama and melodrama, for Godssake, do not take their words and actions seriously because one day the drama will be over and you will be called upon to play another role – simply because you don’t want to be walking around in your next play wearing the costume from the previous. That would be seriously funny, right ? Imagine, walking around feeling like a queen(expecting the world to cook and feed you everything under the sun) though you actually are a cook in the queen’s kitchen. The acceptance that in this life , “I am a cook in the queen’s kitchen and I gotta cook, work with steam, heat , dishwashing, dishes and treat the actual queen like a queen”, that’s the key. The key to satisfaction, fulfilment and ultimately uniting with the peace within.
Some mean villianous characters might come along too; they not only make a play interesting but also add the necessary twists and turns, the ups and downs that make the play enjoyable. So let them be. Have a hearty joyous laugh (or fear, hatred and admiration but only momentarily) and don’t judge them and hold their role against them. It’s not your job to fix anyone, or the lighting or the dialogue – that is only a privilege of the director, the writer, the creator of the play.
So relax, my friend. Enjoy watching your co-actors and heroes and heroines – leaving the strings to the puppeteer. Enjoy the show, like they say !
Live and let live. Act and let act. Love and be loved.
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