The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played at Portland’s Clinton Theater every Saturday night for 43 years.
And during the pandemic they kept it playing, even when no one came.
That’s commitment. That’s a streak that someone has found that wasn’t worth breaking.
How does one keep a streak alive during the trying times?
- Make the decision once. Decide now what you will commit to doing the rest of your life.
- Start in the morning. The science tells us that cognitive load goes up as we go through the day. The ability to make good decisions goes down the more decisions we make.
- Be accountable to someone. Who’s it for? What’s it for? Find the why.
- Make your art. Art is anything we do as humans that bring emotional labour to the table to make a connection. Art is what we get to do to bring joy, meaning and happiness.
- Be grateful that you get to do the work you do. There are billions still without the proper resources.
- It isn’t about the numbers, it’s about the impact. Knowing that the Clinton Theater is still playing Rocky Horror sends a signal that the virus doesn’t change who we are.
- Infinite games by nature don’t have an ending. But you can find a game within a game.
- You can’t spring forever. It is a marathon. Find a pace you can maintain.
- Read something inspirational. When I am thirsty, books fill my cup.
Most importantly, find a new way to measure. Clearly, keeping Rocky Horror playing wasn’t for the money. It was for the story that people told themselves. That story matters.
Josh Allred's Blog 