Push back your curtain (and get your life!) (A life lesson from Queen Latifah's character in "The Wiz")

Like the rest of America, I piled into a living room with some of my closest artsy friends to watch last Thursday's "The Wiz".  Overall, I enjoyed it! The singing was awesome and I really loved the costumes and stage decorations. Anyone who has seen The Wiz knows the NBC production was a little different.  It was kind of a mashup between the play and the movie, with a few changes added in.  The most noticeable change was the Queen Latifah character. 

Latifah played The Wiz- who was played by Richard Pryor in the movie. So yes, she was a woman playing a man who was really a woman. Still with me? When we first meet her, she's all dolled up and sparkling (see below pic).  She was fierce, loud, and demanded your attention! 

Fierce (yet phony) Wiz.

But when we see The Wiz again, she's hiding behind a curtain in her robe and slippers (make up was still on fleek though- shoutout to Cover Girl!). She looked exhausted and tired of her life. (below)

Sad Wiz.

But once Dorothy and her crew talk to her and tell her she's worth more than hiding behind a curtain, she is inspired! She get's her life, honey! When we see her for the final time she is dressed beautifully, her hair is blowing in the wind and she's looking like she is supposed to look! YES!  (below)

Fierce Wiz! YASSSS!

So this got me to thinking:

Am I hiding behind a curtain? Am I just showing up to my life or am I LIVING my life? Am I comfortable in my robe and slippers and afraid to let my hair down to don some beautiful threads? I think we all can learn from Latifah's character.  She was comfortable, revered and loved by everyone, but she was unhappy.  So this shows us that no matter how good we have it, if we're not living our life fully, we're not truly living!

In what way can you step from behind the curtain today?