REspect
©2014 Jeremy Lai
"Mirrors don't lie. Or do they? Mirrors have a way of showing you what you want to see."
“Re.spect noun \ri-ˈspekt\
a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.
a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way
a particular way of thinking about or looking at something”
Inside rehearsal studio space one is challenged, pushed, encouraged, and one is being watched. Always watched and the mirrors don't lie. There is a 'self-awareness' that occurs when mirrors are placed before you to watch yourself work.
You see you. They see you, and the audience...eventually will see you.
Chin high, you smile. Of course, they will see. That is the point. Telling and sharing a story.
Mirrors don't lie.
Or do they?
Mirrors have a way of showing you what you want to see.
"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" She asked
"You are" It replied
Of course, you hear what you want to hear. See what you want to see.
But have you checked your eyesight lately?
What are you truly seeing?
"Do you ever have a moment... or week where everything you do or say seems just...terrible... like that you were so smooth before and then you just open your mouth and even you don't know or understand what you said?" I asked him. This fellow actor and brilliant example of what character work is all about.
"Oh yeah." he said.
Thoughts tumbled, and then he spoke words I can't all remember but they were something like a word water fall I needed.
"I think it comes down to your expectations of yourself. A rehearsal process is for practicing, thats why there is time to 'rehearse'. If I need to sit down, or grab a drink of water I will because that is why I am here. To practice."
These were the words of someone who knew them self.
Words hit the inside of my skull like cold water, and there it was.
"Treating self, with self-respect". My inside voice echoed.
The lack of self-confidence everyone was saying I was in that week... looking in mirrors and seeing a clumsy woman... it was a lie.
It was self-respect that was lacking.
And suddenly, I saw the woman that walks with words, intelligent and bright.
And there it was.
Self-Respect.
Respect yourself, be kind to yourself and above all, never doubt your place.