Nostalgia

I was reading messages on my FB page when I ran into a picture of my first High School play, Grease. Looking at the photograph, I felt something bitter and sweet. My curiosity stopped me to look up the definition of the word (nostalgia) and to my surprise the Greek etymology describes it as  a two word  sandwich: "Homecoming", and "pain, ache."  Those ancient Greeks had their way with words, my man.

As I always do I play with ideas in my head, poking holes at my grandiose realizations and pity. I shortened the length of time to be nostalgic to just the last second of my life. Why would I feel any nostalgia at all? Is it my inability to fully appreciate the love in my life and all the self help cliches I am so sick of reading and seeing?  Don't know, don't know. But, yes I do. We all do.

How can this beautiful Greek word help me better understand the characters, the story and my ability to relate which is at the heart of this internal research.

As an actor maybe it becomes a flag of HOW NOT TO DO IT as the unconscious force of unhappiness tempts me with the could have's and should have's.