Photo by me
Well - it’s been a week and I need to recover. I feel like I went into the void last week navigating sorting through my dad’s things and navigating so many unexpected challenges and emotions. The photo represents how I feel and I want to come back to me. I was wondering how and what to do and then it hit me….watch I Love Lucy! I was a sick kid - had a lot of colds and allergies and I missed a lot of school (I always got good grades though ironically!). At my grandma’s house, I would watch I Love Lucy re-runs when I stayed home. Lucy was my portal into comedy, friendship and the notion that crazy situations happened and somehow everything always worked out. I’ve seen every episode of the original 6 seasons.
So I decided today to help me navigate all the changes I’ve experienced this year, I am going to watch 1 episode of I Love Lucy each day starting in order. I want to see what each one brings. I want to watch them all again. Lucy was a pioneer in her day because she had the lead in the TV show, was married in real life and on TV to a Latin man (this was ground breaking in the early 50s), and she had a prominent role in the production of her TV show. She was also an amazing comedian. Lucy gave me hope on what was possible and was a role model of a powerful woman.
Today I watched episode 1 - The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub - this was from May 13, 1952 and was 23 minutes. 23 minutes to start a story, introduce a problem, see how the problem panned out and come to happy resolution. It was Ethel and Fred’s 18th wedding anniversary and Ethel wanted to go to a night club and Fred wanted to go to the fights. A conflict ensues about where to go and chaos happens as they all want dates to make each other jealous. As I watched, I realized how fearless Lucy was in what she would do for laugh. She didn’t care what people thought about her as she chased Ricky around dressed up as something other than herself. All she cared about was making the audience laugh…being of service. And I love that - she really loved making people laugh and bringing joy - that was her gift. It was about sharing her light.
It makes me wonder why do we have fears that we will be too much of this or that or worry how we are perceived? Why not just focus on being of service by using our gifts? That is what Lucy did. And that is what I want to do…focus on being of service to the world. And remember that presence is a gift and if I can be present as myself that is enough. I can hold calm energetic space for those around me. I can share my art, my writing, and creativity and hopefully inspire others. I always wanted to be of service and forced it in the past. Performing - seeking validation - pushing. And after watch this episode I feel a stillness. A stillness in seeing Lucy in her true comedic element and having that be a reminder to me to be in my element of creativity and being an energetic mirror for others so that they feel lifted up and safe.
I am excited to see where this journey of one show a day goes to and what I learn. I hope that it helps me continue to come back to myself and help me find each new step I need to take as I navigate my dad’s passing and all the other changes.
