It was recently announced in The New York Times that Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with three of his Hamilton collaborators, (Thomas Kail, Jeffery Seller, and James L. Nederlander), purchased the much adored Drama Bookshop in New York City.
Soon there will be a statue of Lin in Times Square.
I’m kidding – although I’d happily join any committee that wants to make that happen.
But, jokes aside, it’s moments like these why we are all reminded of why countless humans are in love with Lin-Manuel Miranda. For when the world feels like the darkness is closing in, Mr. Miranda lights the world ablaze with his goodness.
There’s so much to learn from Lin-Manuel, but here are twelve lessons:
- Say goodnight and say good morning. We take these utterances for granted, but to be able to say them each day, to the ones we love, is a gift.
- It is possible to be a champion for your own work/art, and a cheerleader for your contemporaries. There’s room for both. You should do both.
- Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside – his quote, not mine. But it’s true, and it always will be. Lean into love, celebrate your love, and wear your love proudly – always.
- Remember the friends that supported you earlier in your career – do not forget them when you’re older.
- Cherish your family. Both the one that you’ve been born into and the one that you’ve chosen. There is no amount of money that can buy the love of family.
- Tell the stories you want to hear, see, and read.
- You can use your social media for the forces of good.
- It’s ok to take a twitter break.
- Reading is cool.
- Marriage is cool.
- Genius takes time, so cut yourself some slack. Hamilton was not written in a day. It wasn’t even written in an entire year – it took six.
- Great artists learn from everyone, and everything, around them. They read all genres, they listen to all music, they see all the theatre and film. They diversify what they consume so that they can create something like you’ve never seen.