Monday Morning Wake-Up Call (Up!)

~ Live & Learn

Notes:

  • Inspired by Natalie Portman, 2015 Harvard Commencement Speech: “It was instructive for me to see that for ballet dancers — once your technique gets to a certain level — the only thing that separates you from others is your quirks,” Portman said. “Or even, flaws … You can never be the best technically. Someone will always have a higher jump or a more beautiful line. The only thing you can be the best at is developing your own self.”

26 thoughts on “Monday Morning Wake-Up Call (Up!)”

  2. Great speech and all the truth in it. I am often surprised at the deep wisdom in people and then I wonder WHY I’m so surprised…. It must be that I read so much silage is being spouted by certain people and then ‘distributed’ in every paper, channel and multiplied to the …th degree.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I would like to start a fund with your other readers to raise enough money to hire a photographer (and to encourage you) to get a picture of you in this pose. I’m in…are you?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    Amazing!! Harvard 2015 Commencement … “It was instructive for me to see that for ballet dancers – once your technique gets to a certain level – the only thing that separates you from others is your quirks,” Portman said. “Or even, flaws … You can never be the best technically. Someone will always have a higher jump or a more beautiful line. The only thing you can be the best at is developing your own self.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I’m wondering if this speech was inspired by all the training she did for Black Swan (2010) – the movie was dark and her work was incredible. Such wise words indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It was Dale:

      “Portman says this was especially poignant for her when making “Black Swan,” for which she later won the Oscar for best actress in 2010.
      When first approached about the role, she lied and told the director she was “basically a professional” ballerina. She didn’t realize until she had already gotten the job that she was “about 15 years from” being an actual professional.
      “The point is, if I had known my own limitations, I never would have taken the risk, and the risk led to one of my greatest personal and professional achievements,” said Portman.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. So-o wonderful to have such a deep appreciation of beauty and life! Ballet lives in unknown places in my soul. Anyone see this video of French Ballet dancers in quarantine?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Oh wow Valerie, thank you so much, this is SO beautifully done and well presented. It was made as a Thank You to the carers by the Paris Opéra Ballet. Stunning!
      And also thanks for making me feel like a whale…. 😏🤨🕺💃

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a Reply