Into the Woods: Life Lessons from Musical Theatre

During my son Michael's freshman and senior year of high school, his drama club performed "Into the Woods."  My favorite song was "No One is Alone."  I've heard people say that they thought it should have ended after Act One.  However, I loved  Act Two and without it, we would not have this song.

I was thinking about the lyrics to this song and thought part of it is very appropriate to a problem we have in our country right now. 

"Witches can be right,

Giants can be good."

Now you are probably confused about what that has to do with our country.  

Well, it seems like (especially lately) we put everyone in a box.  There are many, many examples of this; however, I will give you two. 

First, not all white people hate other races.  Second, not all Christians hate those who disagree with their Biblical beliefs.

Another part of the song says, "People make mistakes!"  And "Everybody makes...".  I can't defend what some white people have done or the way some Christians have behaved.  However, I highly doubt any of us would be able to 100% defend our race or religion; because, as the song says, "People make mistakes!"

I will confess that I have put people in a box before and am just starting to see it. I've had a weight problem for 22 years.  I can yo-yo diet better than anyone I know.  But, recently I went through a time of self-reflection...

I had this habit of assuming that the "skinny" or physically fit people of the world assumed that I had a weight problem because I was lazy, weak, or just sat around eating all the time.  Yes, I have had some people say nasty (body shaming) type things to me. 

I didn't believe that my thin friends felt that way (at least not most of them).  It was more like the stranger in the restaurant who glanced over at my table.  Was it fair for me to assume that they glanced over to judge what I was eating?  Was it fair for me to assume that all thin people were just like a few skinny, insensitive jerks?  Of course not and I regret that I allowed that thought to take root in my mind.  It was my fault that allowed that thought to dictate how I saw people that I didn't even know.

So, basically, I'm saying that what I wish we would all learn from this song is not to put anyone in a box. Let's not define someone; because, of someone else's mistakes.  Let's all remember that Witches can be right and Giants can be good.

By the way, you never know what lesson you might learn at the theatre!