There have been many enlightening moments. The most enlightening spiritual experience may be when I went to Africa in 1981 on a scholarship from Juilliard. The whole purpose of the trip was to see the power of art in the natives lives and how it changes, educates and transforms people. I realized how art was so much a part of their lives, whether it was in rituals celebrating coming into womanhood, coming into manhood, surviving the first and second days of birth, expressing the sadness of being infertile. I saw how art crossed gender, age, and language, and I think that was the most enlightening experience.
Art transcends reality.
Also, I was enlightened when I attended The Juilliard School in New York. I had to grow up and learn quickly that people don t always want the best for you. They are not going to sit and watch you succeed. I also learned that hard work pays off. Even if others don t acknowledge it, you can acknowledge it.