Rule# 81: Take the stage
I just watched my youngest daughter, Abigail, in her first middle school production of Beauty and the Beast — and she was fantastic.
No, she wasn’t “Beauty,” nor one of the major speaking roles. But she was the best damn villager in the kingdom. She showed up for every practice, worked hard on her part, and poured herself into contributing to a wonderful show. It mattered to her, and it mattered to us.
As you know, I’m not a fan of “participation trophies.” Just showing up is the minimum expectation in life — not something to celebrate. But stepping onto a stage, even in a small role, is not “just showing up.” It’s taking a risk. It’s starting out. And the best things in life often come when we’re willing to show courage.
I’ve heard that public speaking is the most common fear. For a 13-year-old girl to step out in front of a crowd and overcome that fear is no small thing. It is an act of courage.
Shakespeare said it well in As You Like It:
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances…”
The disappointments in life don’t come from a poor performance or even from failure on the stage. The real regret, the kind that keeps you awake at 2 a.m., comes from never taking the stage at all. The only true failure is in missing the chance to play your part.
Abby’s Asperger’s has taught me more about life than I could have ever imagined. Without the usual social fear of rejection, she charges into new situations with hope and confidence. She takes the stage of her life with a certainty of purpose that many of us spend a lifetime searching for. Autism, for all its challenges, also carries hidden gifts — clarity, honesty, and perspective. Abby sees the world as a stage, and she is always ready for the next act.
My hope for all my children is this: see the world as a grand stage. Step into every act. Take every chance. Because the exits come all too soon — and the limelight, when you find it, is worth savoring.
Love, Dad