Dear Megan,
In January of 2020, you took that stand up comedy class. Remember how one day you were pacing back and forth in the living room, thinking about your directionless life and you had the thought, “stand up”. You googled stand up comedy classes and booked a consultation call with a woman who taught a workshop. You flaked on the actual phone call because you were nervous and she graciously extended you a second chance. When you got on the call, the first thing she said to you was,
“Well, who the hell are you?” and in that moment you wished you had put some thought into what you would say on the call, but that’s not really your style.
Anyway.
You ended up taking the class and performing in front of 300 people at the end (sometimes you are still stunned that you did this). But today’s letter isn’t just to talk about that one time you did stand up (lord knows you have told these readers about it enough).
But how about some air time for Tig Notaro?
As part of your homework for the workshop, you watched her Cancer special and fell in love with her authenticity. Four days after receiving her cancer diagnosis, she walks onto stage in Los Angeles to perform and says,
“Hello. Good evening, hello. I have cancer.”
Tonight you were looking to watch a movie that would make you laugh and you found her newest special, “Hello Again.”
At one point during, she has a piano brought out onto stage and she proceeds to play the worst piano. It didn’t even sound like it was in tune.
But what struck you now and in 2020 about Tig was how she gets paid to just be herself. In fact, the more herself she is, probably the more money she makes. And the whole bad piano bit made you wonder why you don’t do more things poorly. Genuinely.
So, today’s advice is to
Go do something you aren’t good at or don’t know if you’re good at. Get really into it. Just because.
Be yourself. Always. Every day. Forever until the end of time.
That’s all. Back to your Friday night movie marathon (just kidding, be honest…you’re going to bed in like an hour because MIDLIFE).
Tig is a goddess and a role model. Getting paid to be your authentic self? Yes please. As They say, everyone else is taken.
I know someone named Tig and thought no, it couldn't be. It wasn't.