#conseptkin

The other day, I had the opportunity to go to a musical which was performing in the US for the first time, it was a dress rehearsal and the second time they had an American audience. Every other time this musical had been performed (which is called Ceilidh, pronounced Kay-Lee) it has been in Scotland, because that’s where the story takes place, and where the tradition of the ceilidh comes from. A ceilidh, which means something along the lines of “to gather” “couple” or “group”, is a social event with traditional folk music and big group dances (think southern square dancing for my fellow Texans).

Any ways, at the beginning (pause for an “in the beninging” reference) the ‘main’ character was introducing us to the concept of a ceilidh, and he asked if any of us had been to one. I, as well as many other people in the audience said no, because it’s not a thing here in the US. But as the show went on, I realized, I HAVE done this before, the first time I met my cousins on my moms side, we did this, I learned these dances before. And the final song (which was in Scottish, because folk music is like that sometimes) was one I had heard before. My grandfather sung it to me when I was little, I sat there, holding the hands of the people next to me, and I sang along and cried, because I remembered who I was, I remembered my heritage.

And remembering and acknowledging that, is the most beautiful thing you can do for yourself.

Ok, end of yap, thanks for coming to my ted talk.