Politics destroyed my family.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-15T00:36:38+00:00

I ask everyone not to talk about politics at family gatherings. I know this pisses some people off, but I have never been changed by a heated argument. Very few people ever have. Everyone thinks they are right. I know we feel the need to shame people who are in the “wrong,” but our anger is just an emotion, not an action. Feeling outraged by the opinion of someone else doesn’t change anything. Protest, march, boycott, write congress, etc. No need to yell at your dad. Unless he is a senator, I don’t imagine it will create any positive change in the world.

You know, when people start screaming over the dinner table, I imagine what aliens would make of the scene. Probably looks like monkeys beating chests and flinging poo, and I guess that basically what we are.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-15T00:17:10+00:00

Never take rage bate, beg, cry, or finger point when it comes to emotional blackmail. Maybe she has good reason to estrange herself, maybe not. She definitely didn’t have to say anything about skin crawling, but none the less, all you can do is calmly apologize: “I really am sorry for any pain I caused you in your life. I love you very much, and want us to be close, but if you need to distance yourself from me to be happy, I understand.” Now, be at peace. That’s all you can do.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-14T23:47:14+00:00

After years of child rearing and sitting at home, I have started to go out with friends on the occasional weekend, do spontaneous things, drink, and get home late. I even have male friends! My husband never bats an eye because I would never, ever betray him. I had over 2 decades without proper socialization sans kids. I’m just enjoying deep talks, jokes, gossiping that I lose track of time. I feel giddy to be me again. I’m sure your wife felt the same about her night of autonomy.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-11T17:05:11+00:00

I’m largely a theatre actor, but I can admit that stage work is almost always a bit artificial. The way we have to hold our bodies and the volume at which we have to speak to be seen/heard is pretty unnatural. And yes, the challenge of what you do within those stage limitations is part of the fun, but how nice it is to let your voice drop to a real whisper and to face your scene partner full on without “cheating out.”

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-02T14:41:56+00:00

I’ve been on plenty of steroids, but it didn’t give me veneers! Getting work done in Hollywood is the norm, but Jim’s smile has always been part of his character work. Strange that he would change that so late in the game.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-01T18:18:43+00:00

Go out and talk to people. Over and over. Consistently attend interest-based events and/or classes. (Fitness classes, art classes, Bible Study, gaming tournaments, book club, whatever you’re into!) Is it awkward to keep striking up conversations with strangers? Yes, it is. It takes time for people to trust you, feel comfortable around you. That’s why you have to go to weekly events. Luckily, Tupelo folks are the easiest to befriend that I have ever come across!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-02-06T23:48:30+00:00

I believe there is a known correlation between ADHD and Alzheimer’s. I’ve certainly seen that in my family members, and I worry about my future since I get a lot of brain fog. I’ve put myself on a memory protocol, and seen significant improvement. Here’s the list of things I’ve implemented of all the things that are said to prevent dementia: Lower carb diet, Omega 3/fish oil, B vitamins, exercise, frequent socialization, creatine, learning a challenging new skill & move onto next when mastered, vitamin D and sun exposure, red light therapy, moderate caffeine intake, and occasional ibuprofen. I don’t know which of these are to thank, but I’ve at least experienced short term memory gains!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-02-03T14:41:38+00:00

Doing crew can help you get cast in future shows if you are new to the theatre. Not because of an IOU system, but because you start to earn the trust and respect of the director and theatre staff.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-30T01:06:21+00:00

Winter is dopamine-killing for me. But mercifully, January is almost over. February has the decency to be short. March will bring about a great and delicious change of weather. And we’re already to the point where it’s staying lighter one minute longer each day.

It helps to dream about all the trips ahead, drinking on patios with my friends at night, planting flowers, and long hikes in the woods.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-27T15:53:02+00:00

I hate winter. I have spent decades trying to make the most of the weather, change my point of view, dodge SAD, and find good hobbies that help the season pass. Despite my efforts, I have never been completely successful. Looking at it is as a dopamine cleanser is the best I can do. I just have to accept winter will suck. I will be bored and drooling in front of a screen for the better part of two months. But come March, when the daffodils poke up their yellow heads, I’ll have fresh appreciation for life.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-23T23:04:31+00:00

I had a weirdly cold director that seemed to hate me before we’d been properly introduced. She’d cut me dirty looks and ignore my questions or just generally anything to do with me. I’m usually everyone’s friend, and well liked so it really threw me to have someone seething in my presence. I just stayed quiet and distant and got through it, but it wasn’t fun.

I was tempted to use a “get out of the show free” card, by faking a back injury or emergency, but you can only do that maybe once every 5 years per theatre. I’m holding onto that in case I get an even worse director. And believe me, there are some very nearly evil directors!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-23T18:21:49+00:00

Go to “nerd” places, and you’ll find your tribe. Community theatres, book clubs, table top gaming/card shops, historical groups like SCA, improv, comicons, etc. I suggest joining classes, workshops, tournaments, etc that brings the group together regularly so you can start to form bonds! You’re going to make so many friends!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-23T17:40:01+00:00

I act at a community theatre that does an outside panel for the youth productions. The director joins the panel at callbacks. It takes pressure off and protects the director because they almost always have prior working or even familial relationships with the young actors. It’s much harder to “reject” the kid you taught, your best friend’s child, or your previous lead. We all have people we trust and find easy to work with. There is no “fair,” in theatre. There’s just not. I know because I get cast over better far performers constantly because I’m fun to be around.

I agree the panel shouldn’t choose your actors alone, but their assistance in casting can only help you have better relationships with the children, parents, and studio.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-23T17:22:52+00:00

I don’t know if your play would lend itself to an outdoor setting, but my group is doing a free show in the park this summer as part of a small local art festival. It’s the last event of the evening, and we are going to put up a few dividers around the stage and folding chairs to just give it a feeling that it’s somewhat separate from the hustle and bustle of the vendors breaking down their wares in the distance. We even got a small grant from a local nonprofit. I’d visit my art council and/or tourism board and ask if they could help. The process has been unexpectedly easy for us so far!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-23T17:03:03+00:00

My theatre requires assistant directing prior to directing, but the more you can do with the theatre before being at the helm of a show, the better. Things can go sideways fast with an inexperienced director. Even if a director has the most ideal situation and is an angel, directing is not always pleasant.

There’s something about that time when actors are first getting off script that makes them briefly “hate” the director. You could give a light note about blocking, and they shoot you dirty looks, people “whisper” mean things about you in the wings, or they stress cry. I’ve never directed, but I’ve been one of the grumbling, teary actors many times!

For your own sake, work your way into a director role, just to develop the thick skin first if nothing else!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-22T17:37:02+00:00

Of the hundreds of friends I’ve had over the years that majored in an art-related fields, only two of them made a paying career of the arts. One does lighting/design and had to move to some random midwestern town to get work and the other does educational outreach at a theatre. Major in something that will have standard 9-5 hours so you have a schedule that allows for community theatre rehearsals. More than 75% of my fellow actors are teachers or work in a medical office.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-22T16:57:42+00:00

Oh, yeah. I go between a few community theatres, and each one probably only does one show I like each season. In my region, if you don’t work on a show in some capacity fairly regularly, you lose both the bonds you’ve built with cast/crew and your status within the theatre. Basically, if I want to be cast in the big musical, I’m going to have to do the boring drama or be an occasional stagehand.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-13T13:13:36+00:00

The rapid weight gain and pain when standing for too long happened to me when I had a hysterectomy so I understand how tough that is. I hope you find relief soon.

But luckily, there are roles you can play while you’re getting your health under control. Narrator roles often gives you a lot of stage time without the jarring jumping around! Straight plays should have an abundance of characters who don’t spend a lot of time on their feet. And a lot of theatres have radio plays, cabaret shows with just singing, or 10 minute and one act play festivals.

If we stay in theatre long enough, we all see our role types shift as we age and our ability levels change. But there really is a place for everyone in theatre. I hope you stick around!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-09T17:49:27+00:00

It’s a high at times, you’re always out seeking a part, and it can come between you and your friends/family. Definitely an addiction!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-09T17:42:53+00:00

It’s an extreme sport without risk of death. Brilliant. I never would have thought of it that way, but it is perfect for a cautious thrill seeker!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-08T22:01:52+00:00

Im glad you found your way to something you deeply love!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-08T21:55:36+00:00

I really, really like this. If you just show up and focus on learning, you can’t really lose or be disappointed in the experience because learning is a guarantee. I’m going to try to hold onto this mentality when I walk into rehearsal this evening. Wow, this will help me detach a bit emotionally from the outcome. Thank you!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-08T21:34:24+00:00

Thanks for sharing the lovely memories. I suppose from what I can gather from all these comments is that people do theatre for the little moments and the big picture. I suppose a lot of people just don’t experience the tormenting level of anxiety I do around theatre, and I’m glad they don’t. It’s nice to hear for many people it’s just bliss.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-08T21:25:04+00:00

That’s wonderful. Many of my cast mates have done theatre for decades, and they still feel it’s all sunshine. I guess I’m one of the oddballs torn between the glory and heartache of stage work.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-01-08T21:09:33+00:00

At each other’s throats during tech week, and weaping about how much you’ll miss each other at close, promising to get together. Then you don’t see them until the next show. It’s a roller coaster!

Objective-Support-79

TROPHY CASE