7 days to go.....

to the first fully-staged showing of work-in-progress from Migritude. Every rehearsal shows me how far short I fall of where I want to be. I keep wondering whether the work will live up to the lighting, direction, design, music, videography, that's being invested in it. Some of it donated by amazing generous talented people, some of it funded out of my own savings, an act of faith in both the work and my capacity to take it where it needs to go.

I talked to my parents in Nairobi tonight. I told my father how nervous I am about the Dec. 2nd show. He said: "Why? You're a seasoned performer by now."

I said: "Yes, I know, but I'm doing things for this show that I haven't done before. Acting. Moving on stage. Working with lights and costume and props. I'm frightened of how inexperienced I am with all this. I'm scared that I'm just not very good at it yet, and people will see that, and be disappointed."

He said: "Why do you judge yourself? Let others judge you; that's their business. You just try your best."

I wrote those words on a post-it note and stuck it on my laptop.