I was fortunate enough to snag tickets to see the Broadway show Hamilton a few years ago. The husband and I had gone to Chicago for a quick weekend getaway and in my pursuit to get the most out of our trip I started looking for last minute Hamilton tickets for their off-broadway performance. Every ticket was over $200 and I just couldn't justify the cost, especially since this wasn't on Broadway nor the original cast. Then, after clicking on almost every single available seat, I spot two tickets, one in front of the other in the Orchestra section with the note "obstructed view." I click on those seats, last row in the bottom section of the theater and to my shock they were priced at $69.95! WHAT?!? I thought this must've been an incorrect listing, but not one to question the luck of the Gods I went ahead and booked those tickets faster than a flash flood in Hoboken.
"We're going to see Hamilton tonight!," I yell letting the husband know of my new found treasure. I try to find what the view from our seats would be, but I couldn't find those seats anywhere on the internet. I was convinced it must've been a typo and those seats probably didn't even exist. It was definitely a scam, but I was determined to find out.
At around 5pm, we leave our hotel on our way to the theater. It's a cold evening and a light drizzle of rain has started. As we approach the theater, there is a line around the block waiting for the theater doors to open. My excitement was building as we waited until it was our turn to enter. As I show the guy at the box office my digital ticket, he scans it and says, "second door to your left." YES!!! They were real tickets! Now, the question is, how obstructed were these seats? Since I was prepared to be sitting face-to-face with a poll, I was shocked to find that our seats were actually two fold down chairs and there was no poll in sight! Things were off to an awesome start. I'm now beyond giddy with excitement!
I've been a die hard Hamilton fan since the first time I heard the soundtrack! I not only identified with Hamilton, but I felt every single one of the lyrics he sang. So finally being able to see this music come to life was a dream come true. The theater light dims, the red stage curtains open and the orchestra begins to play. Then, the crowd erupts when Hamilton walks on stage singing: "My name is Alexander Hamilton. And there's a million things I haven't done. But just you wait, just you wait."
Wow! I instantly begin singing along with the rest of the audience and tears started to flow down my face. I've never experienced such a powerful moment from music in my life. There was something so real, so strong, so sincere, so raw about the words that were being sung. About the story that was being told. A story of an immigrant who came from nothing and rose to extreme greatness and the only thing he had was his wit, his smarts and his determination...and of course, yes, a little "luck" along the way.
As someone who's had the deck of cards stacked against them their entire life, I related to Hamilton's story on another level. I'm impatient. I want to do something that is greater than me. I want to create a legacy... and yet, I'm never satisfied. Why?! I don't know, but I constantly feel as though I have so much to prove to the world.
I'm in an endless struggle to find happiness. I'm constantly seeking for something more. It's a vicious cycle that I'm trying so hard to break. Every time I think I've attained what I wanted, I realize that I need more. That there is more out there. Even when things are great, I think they could always be better. This attitude. This determination is what has kept me going. This desire and drive to seek the (un)attainable is what keeps the fire inside of me alive. The issue is that this same drive can also be my downfall... and this where I've taken a lesson or two from Hamilton's journey (No worries, no spoiler alerts here).
The first lesson, is that if you don't take some time to enjoy what you've created. To prioritize the things that matter, then time may just pass you by and you'll have missed out on those moments. As we grow and embark on new journeys in our lives we tend to always be looking for whats next (I do at least). The problem is that, when we're so focused on the future, we overlook the here and now.
The second lesson is that seeking more, be it more things, more money, more time, more validation and this need for greatness can be our own downfall. When we're constantly on the hunt for "more" we lose sight of where we are and where we are going. Our victories become diminished. Our goals become blurry. We get messy. We make mistakes. We become lost.
If you're not familiar with the Hamilton musical, you need to do so right NOW! Seriously! I wont be offended if you stop reading this post and start blasting "History Has its Eyes on You." or if you have a Disney+ account go binge watch the entire musical. Heck, I'll make it even easier for you and add a few snippets to some of my favorite songs from the musical, starting with "Wait For It." (and I got extra spicy with the clip so you get both a musical journey and foreign language lesson all in one, since the lyrics have been translated to Spanish... why not, right)
Lin-Manual, you're a genius and I'm sorry it took so many years for you to be recognized for the amazing gift you have given this world! Thank you for bringing these characters back to life and creating something that is beyond our times.
There's an Alexander Hamilton in every one of us. That scrappy, resourceful, tenacious and dreamer self. That fire. That desire to create and do something that is beyond our wildest dreams. That determination to keep going even despite all of the hardships thrown our way. That ability to dream. Not just dream, but dream so big that those same dreams scare you!
We can be ANYTHING we want to be! I truly believe this! I believe that if you want something badly enough, you'll make it happen. That we are not victims of our circumstances. Instead our circumstances are the building blocks we need to propel ourselves forward and upwards. It's those hard moments that builds character. It's those tough decisions that fuel our determination.
So, if you're feeling a little unmotivated, tired or just downright lost, it's okay, but don't let those feelings linger too long. Instead, get up and look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself, "I am not throwin' away my shot!"
We have only one life to live so we should make it the most magical, exciting and downright bada$$ life possible! To use another Hamilton musical line, "We don't get to choose who writes our story." So take that metaphorical feather pen and paper and write the story you want to read and re-read over and over... The story of YOU!
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