20 hours of being present – at Second City Toronto

For the past two weekends, I have been immersed in Improv (aka Improvisational Theatre) training at the world-reknown Second City in Toronto.

 

“Improv?”  my friends asked when they heard “You plan to do standup?”  Well, no.  Truth is, I signed up because I thought improv would add to my facilitation and public speaking toolbox.  Oooohhh ….. little did I know what I would experience.

 

• 20 hours of being present – actually BEING present.  Not just talking about it, or meditating on it, but BEING it
• 20 hours of acting in the moment, of responding even when (and especially if) your mind is blank and you have no idea what you are going to say or do
• 20 hours of releasing attachment to thinking, of getting out of your head and into your gut (and heart)
• 20 hours of observing myself do crazy things, and not caring
• 20 hours of accepting myself  as I am with all my issues, boxes and isms
• 20 hours of trusting my classmates, that they would “have my back” (to quote Marjorie, our teacher)
• 20 hours of trusting myself – that I am enough, that I CAN do it, that I already have it in me
• 20 hours of laughter, joy, fun

 

Does it sound like 20 hours of being “free and laughing”?  Absolutely!   And did I learn anything, or was I “just” having fun?

 

• I learned that true learning is less about the skills, and more about the deeper shift in who I am
• I learned that to really learn, you have to be uncomfortable.  No shifts happen in a comfort zone
• I learned that when you don’t know what to do, do something – anything – just get the energy going
• I learned that being in the moment is hard – but possible
• I learned that every lesson in every course applies to my entire life.  I observed myself engaging with my children in a different way, using improv techniques – I have begun to see through “improv eyes”
• I learned that when you are having fun, the lessons are truly learned (actually I knew that already and it was great to be reminded)

 

Oodles of thanks to my amazing, brilliant and courageous classmates – Anthony, Auravelia, Barbara, Carolyn, Catherine, Chad, Dayna, Diane, Deborah, Janice, Jordan, Julie Lana, Rom, Tulla (ha ha – I remembered the names!) – and everlasting love and gratitude to our teacher, Marjorie, who gave completely and so generously of herself!