The Writing on the Wall

Inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest places. Without a doubt, one of my most inspired moments came in a bathroom. Strangely enough, Jeff has had the same experience in the same bathroom. The bathroom of interest belongs to Gary & Tam Stadler. Gary is the Techno Wizard that you hear about from Jeff now and then (and my best friend). Tam is his wife and the first person to make me realize that my “scientific” view of the world really couldn’t explain everything there was to see in this wacky world.

They’re amazing people with an amazing bathroom. Actually, it’s not really the bathroom so much as it is the writing on the wall. Directly across from the throne sits a quote that has inspired Jeff and I (and probably countless others) to do things we never thought were possible.

It reads:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),
there is one elementary truth the ignorance of
which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

that the moment one definitely commits
oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that
would never otherwise have occurred. A whole
stream of events issues from the decision, raising
in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and material assistance, which
no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can,
begin it. Boldness has genius, power and
magic in it.

Begin it now.

The quote comes from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), a German playwright, poet, novelist and dramatist. If this speaks to you, here’s a PDF version that you can download, print and tape to your performance mirror.