Hi friends,
I want to talk with you about doing things NOW, and be warned: it's about to get serious RULL quick.
I spent most of this week in Massachusetts connecting with my oldest friends...like, friends of more than 20 years. Kindergarten friends. We caught up (read: gossiped), we laughed our heads off at old pictures, we drank shitty wine. It was pretty wonderful.
Except for the fact that we were all together because the brother of our dear friend had died. From cancer. At age 25.
Virtually all of my friends growing up had a sibling that was three years younger, so not only were we all inseparable, our brothers and sisters were too. My brother and the boy were died were not exceptions to this rule. They had been friends since kindergarten. They, too, had 20 years of friendship.
I am still sort of reeling from the week's events, but one thing is crystal clear to me, and I am sharing it with you now, even though this is probably the most raw and real I've ever been in a message to you.
When I found out that my sweet friend's life was nearing its end, I wrote to a message to all my dearest friends of shock and anger and hurt. I had a big audition that night and I was just feeling like life was impossible to fathom. It did not make any sense to me. I did not think I could drag myself to that audition and SHINE. I felt very dim and small. The only way I could get out the door of my apartment was to flip it all around. I wrote another message to that same group of people, and I'd like to share some of it below:
"i am so lucky to be scared shitless to sing tonight. i am so lucky that my voice fucking works at all, let alone can sing and belt and enjoy the delicious feeling of singing. i am so lucky that my biggest worry today is that i will screw up a song. thank you so much for these tiny "problems."
thank you for my throat and larynx and swallowing and eating and drinking and speaking and saying "i love you" and the joy of belting a high note and sustaining it for one tiny second longer than necessary.
thank you for this body that CAN get out of bed even if all i want to do is hide in it. thank you for balance and walking and running. thank you for stretching and reaching.
thank you for everything that works, plain and simple.
thank you for putting tyler in my life today. i hate that he cannot swallow or talk or get out of bed and he is 25 years old. i am really not ok with that. but i thank you for the reminder that i have one precious life and so i will walk out the door of my apartment even if i am scared because it is nothing compared to how he and his family feel and i will walk into that room and open my mouth and sing because i can."
Whatever you want, whatever you dream, please do it now.
Please do it because you can.
Please start today. If you want to be an artist, please draw one tiny picture today. If you want to be a Broadway star, please sing in your shower today. If you want to do a one woman show, please book a venue today. I will come. If you want to have a million dollars, please share your brilliant idea with someone today.
Do it because planes crash and 25-year-olds die from cancer and life is really just such a mystery much of the time and there is so much that is out of our control but you are so powerful simply because you're alive and well and you know what you want, even if it's buried deep down right now, and oh my God, I believe you in so much. 10000%.
I really, really want you to do it.
Do it for no other reason than the simple fact that you can, and that alone is so enough it's crazy.
Love,
Olivia
PS: You've got two chances to get your Shrink on with me at The Movement this month! I'm teaching on August 2nd and 16th (Saturdays) at 11:30 AM, and I would loooooove to see you there! My last class there was a sweat fiesta-- we had to stop midway to grab towels to wipe up the puddles! PLUS, they have an amazing deal on Gilt right now! Save your $$ by checking it out here, and LET'S DO IT!
PPS: I am super pumped to be part of the incredible telesummit 21 Ways To Get What You Want in Business, Life, and Love. My girl Dr. Liz Lasky interviews 21 experts that know exactly what to do to help you achieve your dreams. Seriously — that may sound trite, but these interviews are out of this world. And -- Rich and I are interviewed too! Sign up here (for FREE!) and find out the 21 ways to get you closer to what you want.