Lately, I have been really enjoying our children’s concerts. Having grown more accustomed to songwriting programs with upper elementary and mindfulness workshops with middle schoolers, the return to our performing roots has been wonderful on a different level.
Energetically, it takes more out of Beth and I to drive to a gig, unload our tuck, setup a show, perform and then do the whole thing in reverse. By the time we get home, we are usually wiped out. That’s part of the reason we leaned into other types of presentations. We exchanged physical exhaustion for mental fatigue. As we aged, I thought, “It makes more sense to tax our bodies less.”
What I did not anticipate, though, is how much JOY I was giving up not being on stage. I miss playing, dancing, singing, and creating community with a roomful of children. Plus, it’s a darn good workout. Beth and I have both gained some weight being more sedate, cerebral presenters.
This week we have four shows and the following two weeks we will be making music and exploring nature on Long Beach Island with five year old campers. It’s the last hurrah of our summer schedule and, interestingly, the last time we will perform for kids until we return from the Southwest in mid-October.
In this moment, I feel sad about that.
I think that my playfulness onstage is, in one respect, an antidote to my teenage and adult years years when I spent too much time drinking and drugging. I was never a complete stoner or a drunkard, mind you, but I did enjoy getting high.
Being a children’s performer and songwriter is a much healthier way for me to release natural, feel-good hormones. I don’t need to take a stimulant if my life is stimulating.
On our trip westward, then, our plan is to be active. We look forward to a lot of outdoor time, hiking and exploring. Along with good food and rest, I expect that I will get most of what I need. Writing in this space and playing/singing a bit might help, too. Lastly, I am planning on saying “YES” to opportunities to meet people and try new things. I think that’s what my inner child might enjoy.
I’ll let you know!