Taming of the Crew – Part 1
This weekend we were a performance of “Taming of the Shrew” by a group of 13-18 year old homeschoolers (our youngest daughter is the assistant stage manager). Now maybe I am biased, but they put out a quality performance that rivals ANYTHING that is available in the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis area has more live theaters per capita than anywhere in the U.S. (outside of New York City) and is the third-largest theater market in the country.
This is the 5th play I have seen by CB Productions. The acting of each cast member is superb. Each production has been just as good as this one. I have seen the same actors in lead, major, and minor roles. Once the have had a lead role, they are just as gracious in a lesser role the next time around. There are no superstars, just a lot of depth. How can these productions be so good year after year? This is not an advertisement for CB Productions, but there is something going on here. I love to observe what makes them tick.
I was able to watch about 20 minutes of the group working together before today’s performance. It is probably my favorite part of the whole process. Before each performance, they get together as a group and go over “notes” from the last performance. These notes are a collection of reflections of what went well and what did not from the last performance. Then they all rate that performance from 1 to 10. Each person is a integral part of this whole process. Also, they pray before each performance. They form a circle, hold hands, and one person prays for that particular performance. Lastly, they play team games to loosen up before each performance. The do quirky, fun, and physical things to get the blood flowing.
Back to today’s performance. When I watched the prelude to today’s performance, I saw them do something I had not seen before. They were standing in a circle and they went around as each person told the group about what value the person, just to their left, brought to this production. It was very moving. Each person was able to hear something good and positive about another person.
What they do to build teamwork is foundational for their success. They do it over and over. The kids run the show, they have input, they make decisions, they are all valued. By the end of a performance run, each person feels like family. It is very emotional time on the last day because each goes their separate way for the year and for some, it is their last production. The whole thing is like a microcosm of life played out before you. It is a beautiful thing to watch.
On Wednesday, I will take about how this teamwork mentality is foundation for success at work as well as home. Till then . . .
Burnt Toast
Toast, slightly burnt, a little smokey and that certain smell. That’s the way I feel on certain days. I little over done and not pleasant for anyone. Other day’s, the bread is just lightly browned and oh so good. How do I get more of those days? Once you have reached the point of being overdone, there is not much you can do but through away the bread and start over. I guess the challenge is not get to the point of being overdone.
I recently ventured into making maple syrup for the first time. After you collect the sap, you need to start boiling it down. It takes a long time, like 10 hours. The first nine and a half not much happens, but after that you need to watch it. We take the temperature of the sap and when it gets to 7 degrees above boiling, it is syrup. From 212 degrees to 215 it is fairly slow, but from 215 to 219 degrees it is fairly quick. If you do not watch it, it is easy to get overdone, burn and then be ruined.
Well, that is how it has been for me lately. Too many things inputting and competing for my time, then when I am not paying close enough attention, overload. For me, I have had more things being funneled into the hopper lately and I have not done a good enough job of controlling the flow into my life. So there it is, problem identified. Now what?
For me, it is realizing that I am not effective in what I do, by adjusting my output, to the input provided. I need to maintain a balanced pace regardless of how fast things are coming at me. There is always going to be something else to do, something else screaming for my attention. I am at my best when I take the time to do some self reflection and make the necessary adjustments to run at peak performance before I become burnt toast. For me, it is a slower, more deliberate pace. If I am not paying attention, it is over. So, may you take the time to reflect on the pace you are running and fine tune yourself to run at peak performance on a consistent basis.
In the smallest things . . .
This weekend we put the finishing touch on making our own syrup from the maple trees in our yard. We were inspired after reading an article in the Minnesota Volunteer magazine. We have thoroughly enjoyed having a vegetable garden, apple trees, pear trees, raspberry and strawberry patches, bluebird houses, and flower gardens every year, so this sounded like a nice addition to everything else we do in the yard.
Unity
Definition: the state of being one, or united
Tell me, what can you accomplish on your own without help from others? Did it give you a sense of purpose? Was it easy? It seems to me that a lot of the struggles in life are because we are out of sync with those around us. I don’t mean the world as a whole, but those we love and work with. We exert a lot of effort by trying to swim upstream.
Lately my wife has been spending a lot of time ushering the kids to various activities. We live about a half hour drive from anywhere, so it is a hour round trip to drop them off and a hour round trip to pick them up. While these activities are good, it means less time for us to spend with each other. It is then easier for me to gripe about the time spent away, not enter in to what is the flow of the household at this time and complain. Or, maybe I could stop trying to go against the flow and figure a way to create a win-win solution. Why Don’t I go with? That is a novel concept! We can spend time with each other, she does not get burnt out and unity is restored into the house.
I know it may sound simple, but unity is a multiplier of all good things. More accomplished, more satisfaction and less effort. I love this effect! So, may you become more unified with those around you today!