Stage

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,”
William Shakespeare – As You Like It

Yes, we are all merely players on the world’s stage, acting out our bit parts as part of the whole drama, moving from scene to scene, act to act and performance to performance. We are experts at playing who we are on this stage, though some of us are well versed and adept at playing other than our recognized or revealed roles.

Some of us seamlessly slip like shadows between our character roles without leaving any evidence, inkling or suspicions as to who we really are for the world to discern; this is the art of being an actor, while others of us are locked into a single role and unable or unwilling to step out of character. Those who are unwilling or unable to step into other roles or characters are often those very same individuals who blame others for their misfortunes or society in general for their lack of status or opportunities. These individuals are akin to the leopard that cannot change his own spots; after all his spots are what makes him a leopard and therefore, unique and different from any other creature on this stage.

I have learned, no adapted to multiple roles, playing multiple characters and seamlessly slipping between the shadows cast upon the world’s theater. Like an accomplished Shakespearian actor I have adapted my character to the may and varying roles that I am confronted with each and every day. I will be cold and heartless when my role requires it, guarded and protective when the play transitions into the personal realms and inquisitive and learning when I’m involved in seeking out information.

Like the accomplished actor, I have adapted and I am able to immerse myself in whatever role I take on and I simply become a chameleon of sorts, slipping from character to character as the play transitions from act to act or scene to scene. As I have taken on new roles, I have also acquired new skills and exhibited new talents that never existed before all from deeply immersing myself into the roles that I must play.

As an example, I have become quite adept at throwing darts and playing pool, acquiring both of these skills were necessary for me as I moved onto a new venue and became part of a new play to assimilate and acquire information. I have made new friends who only know me by my stage name because that’s the only name that I have chosen to reveal to them. Yet, as I have immersed myself into this role and become one with the character, those around me have opened up and revealed many disconcerting and enlightening tidbits of information.

Yes, all the world’s a stage and we are all but actors playing out our parts, however I have found it to be very refreshing and enlightening to move beyond my chosen role, to change my nature, so to speak and become many different characters in this theatrical production. I have found the challenge of immersing and becoming different cast members to be truly exciting and thrilling.