The Balancing Act

“Doing the best I can with what I’ve got, right where I am.” — Lisa Simone

“Doing the best I can with what I’ve got, right where I am” is the current mantra as I continue settling into a new country while simultaneously gearing up for this year’s tour, which begins in mid-May.

The go-tos in Lisa’s “training for the stage” program—i.e., a well-equipped gym and an alkaline-based diet—are not readily available. What was once a given now requires extra thought, a new approach, and the ability to adjust as needed… with a smile.

I assumed that in Ghana, keeping up my vegetable-based lifestyle would be a given. Nope.

Where I am specifically located, the local diet leans toward an acidic approach to eating, with a foundation based in meat, poultry, fish, and lots of pepper. Vegetables are mainly ground and sautéed, or simply sautéed. The definition of a salad is creamy coleslaw.

I have been told that in the North, salad and raw vegetables are more the norm. I’m not in the North.

The local fruit and vegetable stands that are everywhere sell plantain, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, yam, and the like, along with a huge variety of fruits—all of which I love. But for leafy greens, the large supermarkets that cater to foreign nationals have been the best place to find them.

It is also Harmattan season. And oh, the dust.

For someone with environmental allergies, this balancing act never lets up. For those unfamiliar with the term, Harmattan is similar to the Santa Ana winds in California. Seasonal Saharan winds bring dry air, dust, and haze, often resulting in bronchial and respiratory irritation. Luckily, this season only lasts a few months.

But for right now, it is an added challenge.

Recently, I found a nearby Chinese clinic where I can get acupuncture—an old, familiar go-to. I’m happy to have it at my fingertips for a cost that originally made my eyebrows graze my hairline—$9 (that is not a typo) for a one-hour session.

This approach has always helped my allergies, and it continues to assist me in keeping my system regulated as it adjusts to this new life.

Preparing for this tour has required a new approach altogether. The type of deal my agency negotiated for the Australian dates is called a landed deal—a term I had never heard before and thought, “How hard can it be?”

I’m learning the answer to that question.

A landed deal means the artist acts as their own production team. Before now, I had no idea what went into preparing for a show.

My respect and appreciation for all the support teams who work behind the scenes have skyrocketed.

For all these years, I’ve taken car services to airports, flown business class, been met at the other end, shown to my hotel suite, escorted to rehearsals, and simply walked onto a prepared stage.

Not this time.

It has been a lesson in humility as well as a steep learning curve.

When I walk on stage this time—on the heels of months of work behind the scenes—I honestly don’t know what I will feel. But I can say with confidence that my smile will be wide.

I started vocalizing every other day two weeks ago and am heartened. My voice feels good as it dips and soars along with recordings of past performances.

And there is the tell.

Despite the dietary challenges, allergies, and unfamiliar workload, my mantra stays in place. When the tickle of overwhelm nudges, I stop whatever I’m working on in that moment. I’m learning not to force myself to push through when I realize I’m no longer smiling.

And that is the gauge.

As a former perfectionist who had to do everything just so, I’m learning to recognize that my expectations are often the root of my overwhelm.

So this is the balancing act.

It’s a lot to unpack, much less manage—yet I’m doing just that.

In my 20s, 30s, and 40s, “no pain, no gain” was front and center. When I entered my 50s, that iron grip began to loosen.

And now I simply do the best I can with what I’ve got, right where I am.

From my heart to yours,