Life's Like a Talent Show...the SEQUEL!

Life's Like a Talent Show

THE SEQUEL

  Riley swayed nervously in line as the 5th graders anxiously awaited the 2nd graders to exit the stage. The little boys and girls giggled and cheered while they passed by. Riley could feel her heart pounding so hard within her small frame that she feared  all her classmates would know just how frightened she was.

  "This is silly", Riley thought to herself. "I have done this before. Why am I so nervous?"

  The 5th graders swiftly entered the stage. Riley felt a hand pushing her forward. Her best friend, Alexia, was extremely eager to be out there. Riley's feet felt like they weighed 1000 lbs. 

  "Move!", Alexia commanded. Her eyes were wide and her smile cartoonish.

  "Don't push!", Riley replied.

  Riley forced herself out onto the stage. As she did every year, Riley found herself up front. That's what happens when you are one of the smallest in your class. They put you up front so everyone can still see you. Riley had thought about asking to be placed in the back row, but her teacher had told her no every other year.

  She took a deep breath. Her hands were sweaty, mouth dry, and worst of all, mind blank.  She suddenly couldn't remember the words to any of the Christmas songs they had practiced for the past three weeks.

  The principal's muffled voice announced to the crowd that the 5th graders were ready to perform, but Riley was not!  The large red curtain split and the crowd of parents clapped!  It was time to perform.

  The music began. Alexia belted out the first line beside Riley who opened her mouth, but nothing came out!

  This week, my youngest daughter performed with her elementary school choir for their annual holiday show. My wife and I proudly watched our once shy and terrified little girl sing and perform all the choreographed moves with zeal.  She didn't partake in any of the "special assignments" that other kids did at the front of the stage, but that was just fine. She, as always, was in the front row, because she is one of the smallest in her class. It was nearly the exact same spot she stood at her first choir performance, this one didn't turn out so well. 

  Kyra showed no signs of fear as a child, and she has the scar under her chin to prove it. When we arrived at her first school choir performance, everything seemed to be going well. Kyra was excited even...if I recall it correctly. My wife and I dropped her off backstage with her classmates and headed to the theatre to secure our seats.

  The curtain opened up and the crowd oooo'd and ahhhh'd. That was when we saw our precious little girl trying to hide in her clothes. She had her arms against her body so tightly and her head pulled down like a turtle attempting to enter its shelf for protection.  The music started and the class began to sing...except Kyra, who managed to do little more than cry...well it may have even be a sobbing to describe it more correctly.

  As a parent it was awful to watch our little girl so terrified. Then the murmuring began in the crowd around us. Parents in the crowd began to notice Kyra and just how terrified she was.

  Life's like a talent show, or so I've realized watching my children. I've been here before. (Life's Like a Talent Show Original Blog) 

  I've learned through my children that we must get up, do it again, and push through the fears in our life.

  

  For Kyra, I am proud to say, she has continued to push through her fear of public performances. Every year she performs in a dance recital, and has had a number of other school performances.

  Last week, my wife and I watched our little girl stand up for her final elementary school holiday choir performance. It is almost astonishing to see how much she has grown, both physically and emotionally in the last few years. It got me thinking about the subject of my original blog, and I decided to write the sequel.

  Life is like a talent show!  No matter how old you are you must find the courage to stand up and perform, even when the first performance doesn't go so well. Just stand up! Shake it off and get up there again! It is most certainly what I have learned from my daughter.

Christopher M. Purrett

Enjoy the Journey!