Please, Take My Seat: Your 'Privilege' is Keeping you from Living your Bucket List Life

Sometimes you have to give up your place in line to go forward.

Sometimes stepping back allows you to go further, faster.

Privilege is the first stepping stone to Disdain.

To Condemnation.

To Passing Judgement.

Having more makes us believe.

That we Deserve to have more.

That we are somehow Better than others.

And when we 'Deserve to be Better', we naturally look down on those without.

We all have places in our lives where we feel privileged.  But we don't have to fall into that trap.  We can be grateful for every little bit of help we get.

And be prepared to share that privilege with others.

Giving up your seat to someone who needs it more than you

will fill your soul.

Giving up your place in line to someone in a hurry

will make you glow inside.

Giving up your advantage

will make you feel like you earned your rewards.

Earned, NOT Deserved.

My personal journey along this path:

Many of you know my fascination/obsession with Shakespeare. (Acted as Richard III, Jaques, Anthony, Demetrius, Lysander, and so many others. Directed Midsummer Night's Dream. And I celebrate April 23rd every year).

You can blame two incredible influences for that insanity.  The late, great Doctor James Ayres (Shakespeare at Winedale).

And this limey bastard…

He taught me to love the word ‘bastard’.  He is/was my mentor, my friend and my teacher.  As the Artistic Director of the Will and Company, he taught me most of what I know today about the Will.  His plays, his life, his influences.

We traveled the burrows of LA performing Shakespeare for schools, from kindergartens to colleges.  One hour, in and out.  Set up the stage, determine entrances ("Ok, Art will enter thru the cafeteria door, Greyson hide behind these flags until your cue,  Ready, break!"), 45 min version of Hamlet, a little Q and A, and we were gone.

Modern day gypsies trading on Cheers and Smiles.

Colin brought the troupe into South Central 3 days after the LA Rodney King riots.  We performed the Three Musketeers (Aramis, if you must know) for black, 8 year old kiddos who were wondering if white people were evil.

Unsettling.

Uncomfortable.

Unnerving.

And one of the BEST experiences of my life.

The kids loved it!

They cheered Us.

We hugged Them.

Maybe, just maybe, my small part may have had an effect on the world that day.

Without Colin as my leader, I don't think I would've had the guts to even make the attempt.

So I raise my glass to a man who has performed 1000's of shows for decades across LA and the nation.

Focusing on celebrating minorities, the disadvantaged, the non-white non-male populace.

Much respect to my favorite Limey bastard,… Colin Cox.

Sometimes giving up your place in line.

Is the most wonderfully selfish thing you can do.

-Greyson Hawe

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What are you willing to give up to lighten someone else's load?  Please tell me about it below!