Jan 24, 2022
With Sharleen Cooper Cohen; Author, Playwright, and Producer
Sometimes out of the darkest moments we find an opportunity to take our lives in an entirely new direction. It’s ironic to think that without having first gone through that horrible pain we might never have found the will or the opportunity to rediscover our passion. Have you ever heard the old saying, “When one door closes, another one opens?” Alexander Graham Bell is credited with that quote, but the full quote actually states, “When one door closes, another one opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully at the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.” In order to see the newly opened door, we have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone into the unknown and take the chance to explore the unfamiliar path. If we stay locked in our misery, we may never learn what miracles wait on the other side of that unlatched door.
My guest today, Sharleen Cooper Cohen, is an author, playwright, producer, and my very dear friend. Sharon learned how life-changing it would be to take that courageous step into the unknown and move forward when her beloved husband died at a young age. She’s here to share an inspiring story of hope, resilience, and overcoming tragedy.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- What was Sharleen’s life like with her husband?
- What was Sharleen’s family connection to motion pictures?
- What was Sharleen’s childhood dream?
- What work did Sharleen first do in her career?
- When did Sharleen begin writing?
- What drew Sharleen to musicals and how did she create her first one?
- All about Sharleen’s musicals Stormy Weather, An Officer and a Gentleman.
- What does Sharleen do for fun?
- How can we find Sharleen’s newly rewritten books?
Quotes:
- “I started writing when my husband died because crying just didn’t give me the satisfaction.” — Sharleen
- “I cried. I cried every night for hours, but it wasn’t enough. I needed more of an expression and I started writing poetry.” — Sharleen
- “It takes a lot of work, a lot of work to learn a profession.” — Sharleen
- “I have been called the Goddess of Persistence.” — Sharleen
Today’s Takeaway: It’s not uncommon for a tragic loss like the death of a loved one to paralyze us with grief. While our initial instinct might be to curl up in a ball and hide from the world, we can choose to channel that devastating grief into something worthwhile that helps us heal as we process our pain. Finding that new passion or that reason to get up in the morning is not only healing for ourselves, but it may also inspire or benefit others. Sharleen turned to writing as a way to work through the grief, but when her novels connected with millions of readers around the world that success later paved the way for an entirely new career in the theater. We never know what opportunities might come our way if we don’t open ourselves up to the possibility of finding them. So don’t wait for a tragedy to push you out of your comfort zone! If there is something you dream of doing one day, why not make that day now? Remember that every single day is a gift, and when we focus only on the door that is closed we can’t see the one that has just opened up for us. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”
Brought to You By:
http://officerandagentlemanmusical.com/
BROADWAY IN DETROIT
Mentioned in This Episode: