Yipster

Last month I shot a commercial for a product I can’t name doing something I can’t talk about. Hopefully, it will run. I had to hold this unnamed product a certain way to make sure it was in the shot along with my approachable and “charactery” face. It was a close-up and I had to maneuver my arm in a very unnatural way to make it work. Then the camera moved and we did another take. The director of photography asked me to raise the product. I was still in the aforementioned unnatural position and couldn’t really get the product any higher with my arm smushed against my body, “I can’t.” I said. 

“Move your elbow, Bridget.” He said. “And don’t say can’t.”

I was embarrassed. He was right, that was all I had to do. But I was locked into the first position and hadn’t considered I only had to move. I hated being so obviously and stupidly rigid and obtuse. I have had the good fortune to use my arm for 29 years; I know how it works. Even if “don’t say can’t” sounds like an affirmation and therefore is an immediate enemy of mine, he had a point. Perhaps one doesn’t want to, or it seems impossible, or has never been done, but you know, sí, se puede. 

Move your elbow and don’t say can’t. Now exhale into chaturanga dandasana, really feeling the floor beneath you.