Focus on what's important

Every day I seem to have a to do list as long as my arm. Work stuff, cleaning, appointments to go to, activities for my daughter, millions of emails, unexpected chores – the day to day struggle of being a super mum/wife/business woman/normal human being is real. It’s sometimes hard to have “me time” or simply appreciate the wonderful fact that I am alive and life is pretty amazing.

Occasionally (when I have time!), I do that thing of thinking about the universe. I like to look up at the stars on a clear night and try to get my head around the infinity of space. There being about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe kinda blows my mind and I cannot help thinking how my day to day chores are diddly-squat, in comparison to this fact. I do love it though when my mind wanders to these thoughts as I truly believe its fundamental to remember what’s important in this fast-paced, high achieving world that we live in.

One way to remind yourself about what’s important in life (at least for me) is going to see an amazing piece of theatre. Yes, I’m a total theatre fan. I’ve spent my whole adult life working in drama and theatre, but I hear people quoting ‘life changing” comments about what they’ve seen at the theatre all the time. And most of the people I know don’t work in drama.

There is a reason that theatre has been around for thousands of years. The theatre allows us to escape our realities for a short time but enough time to bring meaning into our lives. Plays, musicals or any piece of theatre often have central themes such as love, death, survival, courage, family, forgiveness….. Theatre can help you deal with your own difficulties or inspire you, move you, remind you what’s important. I’ve left the theatre many times feeling differently about life. I’ve felt motivated to focus on what’s real and what’s quite frankly not even remotely important (such as having to do EVERYTHING on my daily to do list).

So, I urge you, go to the theatre. Take your children to the theatre. Don’t know what to see? Here’s a very short list of some recommendations that I think will appeal to lots of people:

Children: Matilda the Musical in London, Billionaire Boy at Bath Theatre Royal, Rapunzel at The Egg Theatre Bath

Adults: Come from Away in London, Mamma Mia at Bristol Hippodrome, Calendar Girls at Bath Theatre Royal