In 2007, a work of art opened the gates to a reservoir of inspiration and joy for me over the last 15 years. The work of art was the original Off-Broadway production of “In the Heights” by Lin-Manuel Miranda. I proceeded to see the show two more times Off-Broadway, including taking a class of my students, and then four more times in its Broadway release.1
Over the years, Lin-Manuel has consistently delivered a combination that moves my soul: melodious harmonies, lyrical genius, and deeply resonant themes.2
For this week’s reflection, I wanted it to center on Inspiration and Joy, so I thought I’d mix it up by sharing the first installation of Lin’s Lessons - a list of 10 songs from various Lin-Manuel Miranda pieces with my favorite line and the lesson it inspires.
Check the technique, yo:
13: “Wrote My Way Out” from the Hamilton Mixtape
“Running on empty, there was nothing left in me but doubt,
I picked up a pen…And wrote my way out.”Lesson: The power of writing and reflection. Writing sharpens my thinking. It can inspire, challenge and motivate change.
2: “Carnaval del Barrio” from In the Heights
“Can we raise our voice tonight? Can we make a little noise tonight? Hey!
Esa bonita bandera (hey!) Contiene mi alma entera (hey!)” [That beautiful flag. It holds my entire soul.]Lesson: Community and Roots. Celebrate and be proud of your roots (A lo cubano!). Embrace community that helps me to tap into soulful energy.
3: “Dear Theodosia” from Hamilton
“I swear that I'll be around for you…I'll do whatever it takes…I'll make a million mistakes…I'll make the world safe and sound for you.”
Lesson: Family is my reason for being. Nothing is more important than providing for and being there for my daughter, Alicia and my son, Julián (and of course my wife Alex though this song focuses on the kids).
4: “Benny’s Dispatch” from In the Heights
“Atención, yo, attention…It's Benny and I'd like to mention
I'm on the microphone this mornin'…Honk your horn if you want it.”Lesson: Find joy in the mundane. If it’s possible to have fun with a taxi dispatch, you can create fun in just about any situation.
5: “Surface Pressure” from Encanto soundtrack
“But wait…If I could shake…the crushing weight of expectations…Would that free some room up for joy…Or relaxation, or simple pleasure?”
Lesson: Make room for joy. Notice when the pressure of expectations (my own and the perceived expectations of others) start to choke out joy. It’s in these situations that I need to find ways to inject playfulness.
6: “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton
“There are moments that the words don't reach. There's a grace too powerful to name. We push away what we can never understand. We push away the unimaginable…Forgiveness…can you imagine?”
Lesson: The Paradox of Forgiveness. As hard as it is to do, forgiveness of others and of ourselves opens up possibilities that previously seemed unimaginable.
7: “Paciencia y Fe” from In the Heights
“Ay carajo, it's hot! But that's okay…Mama would say, ‘Paciencia y fe’”
Lesson: Patience and Faith. There will always be injustice and it is inevitable that we will suffer difficult and heart-wrenching things. That said, the world bends in our favor and everything that happens in life can teach us something if we approach it with patience and faith.
8: “Alabanza” from In the Heights
“She sang the praises of things we ignore…Glass Coke bottles, bread crumbs, and a sky full of stars…She cherished these things, she'd say: "Alabanza."
Alabanza means to raise this thing to God's face…And to sing, quite literally: "Praise to this.”Lesson: Heartfelt gratitude. Take the time to express heartfelt gratitude for the relationships and things that at times I take for granted.
9: “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana soundtrack
“See the light as it shines on the sea?…It's blinding…But no one knows…How deep it goes.
And it seems like it's calling out to me…So come find me…And let me know…What's beyond that line?…Will I cross that line?”
Lesson: Seek adventure and follow your curiosity. The best of me comes out when I seek adventure and explore opportunities and experiences that push me out of my comfort zone.
10: “That Would Be Enough” from the Hamilton Mixtape (Had to include Alicia)
“So look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now...And we could be enough. That would be enough.”
Lesson: Balance ambition with finding contentment in my closest relationships. Achievement and impact are motivating and can consume my daily attention and energy, and yet at the end of the day, it’s the people closest to me and the communities I care about that will ultimately give my life meaning.
Some questions I reflected on this week:
Which of Lin’s Lessons do I need most for the upcoming week?
How will I sustain my awareness on this topic in the moments I feel overwhelmed?
Who around me can I share some inspiration with through one of Lin’s Lessons?
What other works of art bring a similar sense of joy to my life and how can I ensure I have enough of them in my life?
One of the more special times I saw it was at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles with my parents, my brother and one of my childhood best friends, Robert and his mom aka Mama Santini. We also happened to bump into another of my close friends Caleb at the same showing. It was like the stars aligned. Still one of my favorite memories of all time.
I also recognize his work is not without critics. That said, I respect his humility in the face of constructive criticism. A good example is his statement here in response to feedback on the lack of Afro-Latino representation in the “In the Heights” film.
This is definitely NOT a ranking of my top Lin songs. I’m not sure I could do that. It’s like asking me to rank the MCU movies…you’ll get a different answer depending on the day. This is just the first list of ten lessons that came to mind in my weekly reflection. I definitely left out some bangers from Lin that I will include in Part 2 and beyond.
This is so insightful! Thank you for sharing!