LIFE IS INTERESTING(Charles E.J. Moulton) ARTWORK ON THIS PAGE: "African Sunrise", acrylic painting by Charles E.J. Moulton

As I write this, an episode of Star Trek: Voyager flashes across my screen. It somehow fits with the concept of this article. Exploring, I mean.
I admit it, I love that series. The travellers in Voyager are lost in space, explorers by profession, left alone somewhere in a distant part of the Milky Way by accident. And, although they encounter many obstacles, they keep on fighting until the end. They keep on trying to get home, eventually reaching their goal.
I am like them. I hope I am, anyway. I never give up.
Well, I am an explorer.
Basically, I am here to find out what the world is, what my fate is, where I am going.
“Survivors, I am picking up the source frequency.”
“The process sequencer of a Borg drone.”
“Now what if I told that this fellow was invited to dinner, but never got around to leaving.”
Dialogue from an ongoing inspiration.
That is what is going on the screen as I write, loosely chosen material from a series that investigates a very old human characteristic: finding out how the world works.
Patterns.
Creative interests.
Those are things that go on in my life.
Basically, I try to stay true to myself.
I had to give up a lot of things to be where I am, but I gained a lot of spiritual bliss.
I have a wife, a daughter, a house, a steady job as a singer, I am a published author, a big band-vocalist, a painter, a voice-over-speaker, an actor, a teacher, a director.
Okay, you are thinking: he is showing off.
Okay, I am showing off.
But I am proud of my origin, my talents, my love of what I do.
Basically, the paradigm shift that has taken over my life has resulted in a focus on the creative interests and how to pinpoint where to do good as opposed to actually keeping things or dwelling in the past. And more and more, I realize that keeping creative and not giving up is the main thing. The efforts to combine success with family has become very important to me. To make sure that my work and artistic progress benefits my family.
I worked as a director today, directing my students in a musical production that will celebrate its premiere soon in my home town. We worked ourselves through the entire second act of the musical within four hours, many of the scenes previously unrehearsed before today. As you can gather, we had limited amount of time to produce this thing. As talented as the students are, I am used to rehearsals that concentrate on singular or dual scenes within that time frame. Even for experienced professionals such a scenario can be nervewracking.
We know that there is one scene, or maybe two scenes, that we have to concentrate on and really go to the depth into in one long rehearsal. One act in one long rehearsal is unheard of. There was lots of talent, though, some critique, some impatience and some boredom with the slow process of the work. Still, I know that I have come to the point where I keep on going and keep on working on my craft and going ahead in spite of any critique that comes up. Even when critique arrives and that old insecurity creeps up, I know I am strong enough to work around that and believe in my abilities.
Basically, I see what my students are doing and I am really proud of them. I walk home at the end of that rehearsal and I see my name in the programme and know I will be doing the same thing tomorrow and I will learn something, just as I hope that they will learn from me.
Henry Maske wrote a biography: “Only those who give up have lost”.
There is a truth to that.
I have been in the business of the creative arts all my life now. So, actually I have experienced a whole great deal of things that I hope that I can pass on to my students. When I tell them something regarding a scene, I hope that I can pass something on to them in form of inspiration and strength and skill.
It is hard for young people to find the right interpretation to portray a role, when they are not yet out of school. But I know they can make it.
I notice I am yawning and I have to get up early tomorrow to exercise for my back injury and then go back to my workshop in the late afternoon and evening. I am actually quite proud of myself, that I managed to plow through a full act with two ensembles tonight. I know that it will be easier tomorrow, knowing that we have rehearsed most of the scenes that will go through tomorrow.
Not giving up, I think that is the key word.
I am proud of myself, my students (who, many of them, look up to me) and I hope that I can pass on something of my years of experience in the theatre world and make them feel something, interpret their roles better and be as proud of themselves as I hope I can be of myself.
And so, one episode of Star Trek: Voyager ends and another one begins, my feet ache, and I can look back on another day filled with challenges and oppurtunities.
Life is interesting.
You know what I most proud of?
My wife and daughter.
And yes, my artistic experience.
Those immaterial wonders.
Spiritual bliss.
The road is the way, folks.
The goal of your journey is to learn from the journey.
Sometimes, walking the road is all you have to do.
Just like in Star Trek: Voyager, you explore and learn, hoping one day to return home.

Well, I am back,folks.
Chilean red wine in my glass, food in my belly, another long day under my belt, and, yes, Star Trek: Voyager flashing on the screen again. This time, a mother was lost in space. She thought she would not return to the ship to find her daughter. So, she sent a farewell note. But she did come back and was there to experience a holodeck version of a fairytale with her daughter. A family reunited. The episode is called “Once upon a time” and so, the fanfare resounds and the beauty of the story continues.
And I am mighty proud of who I am.
Why am I so interested in the explorers?
Who was I in my previous life? Marco Polo? Christopher Columbus? Rodrigo de Triana, who screamed “Tierra!” at 2 p.m. on October 12th, 1492 and who saw land for the first time in three months. Whoever I was, I was an explorer.
I am certainly exploring in this life.
Exploring skills, exploring my own second youth, how I am getting so much attention, love and respect from these youngsters. Although they have a lot to learn, I must say that they are very talented and I am very proud to be a part of directing something that might mean something for their future. They all take with something with them on the road down this journey, as I direct them in this musical.
It will inspire them.
I know it inspires me.
They inspire me.
Their youth inspires me.
Their hope inspires me.
Their ambition inspires me.
I like those students and that I can help them realize what a wonderful profession this is, just by breathing some hope and enthusiasm into their artistic soul.
It’s not bad being an artist, especially when you can pass on your knowledge to younger people who seem to profit from my experience.
When I see people like that, I realize that there is hope in the world.
Star Trek is still on, flashing and emoting. I am yawning again. I will slip into my bed soon, as the crew slips into the slipstream. I can say that I have the joy of actually teach, sing, paint, act, tourguide, film, play instruments and direct.
And you know how happiness soars when you learn to stay calm and be proud of yourself. My daughter and wife are there, as well. And there is no better situation in the world. Life is art and art is life. Love is depth and emotion is music.

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