Wait For it or Go For it
Let the song play while you read!
I was fortunate to see Hamilton in Chicago, and the powerful music showed me a part of history I knew little about. My favorite song, “Wait For It”, is sung by the character, Aaron Burr, who eventually shoots Alexander Hamilton in a duel at the end. (Not really a spoiler – because revealed in the first scene/song of the show and . . it is history.)
This line of the song, “Love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes. But we keep living anyway, we rise and we fall and we break and we make our mistakes. And if there’s a reason I’m still alive, then I’m willing to wait for it.” Life can be difficult, we may lose our loved ones, jobs, or have daily battles, and life “takes”…. but we fight and hope know and know there is a reason and purpose to our lives so we persevere and push forward.
I hit track #13 “Wait For It” repeatedly on the soundtrack. This song has many layers and it is thought provoking – take a look and listen to the lyrics – and ask yourself: Are you a Burr or a Hamilton? I have created this as an epic question such as: are you an Edward or Jacob? Are you Gryffindor or Slytherin? Peeta or Gale?
Aaron Burr chooses to sit back and bide his time for eventual reward. His lover, Theodosia, is a British general’s wife and he knows he will be with her at the end of the war. He waits. He chooses to avoid confrontation or aggression hoping that the payoff will be worthwhile. But Burr watches Hamilton with envy as Hamilton takes charge and goes after what he wants and needs. “Hamilton doesn’t hesitate, he takes and he takes.” As Hamilton forges new foundations in government and makes history, Burr watches. Burr loses an election due to Hamilton and anger rises. In the end, Burr is pushed into a duel and he acts – rather than wait. He goes against his own motto, and it destroys his world.
Aaron Burr chooses to wait for rewards and play it safe, while Hamilton tackles adversity to go after what he wants. What is the right path? When Hamilton goes after what he wants it costs him his family and eventually his life. Burr waits and waits, but he is alone and unhappy.
I choose BOTH routes – I often take risks and go after what I want. Making life changes and pursuing writing in my 40’s is difficult, but rewarding and fulfilling. I could wait until my kids are off to college, retired, or write on the side? But I don’t want to – because I love it! I cut back on my medical practice and rearranged my life to write. But now, I also – Wait For It…. when I wrote my first novel, I self published it immediately and know now that was likely a mistake. I could have molded the story longer and developed it more. Now, I hone my craft, learn as much as possible, and send out manuscripts to agents and editors – and wait, and wait, and wait. Someday I will get published. But in the mean time, I am rewarded daily by doing what I love.
What is your method – dive in and take charge or wait for it?
