Isaac Asimov said, “To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improvise as well.”

My,  mother-in-law, Fannie was an excellent cook. She said, “If you don’t have an ingredient—-improvise. ” She was a very smart lady, even though she never met Isaac Asimov.  However, I remembered her advise, when I read the instructions for a homemade, therapeutic hot pad; “Put rice in a big sock, tie off the end and put it in the microwave.”

Since I didn’t have regular rice in the house, I put Rice-a-Roni in the sock. Now, when my neck hurts, it really smells delicious.

My life has always been a bit improvised, and I have often zigged when I should have zagged, but I have no regrets. Lately, I have discovered that when you get old you improvise a lot. For instance being unable to lift a suitcase to the upper compartment on an airplane involves some improvisation. I play the role of an old lady, and block the aisle until some nice young fellow, playing the role of a boy scout, hoists the suitcase up for me. It works every time! Then I say, “Your MaMa raised you right!” Bingo!

Improvisation is one of the core techniques used by actors.  It triggers spontaneity and sparks the imagination. One of the classic movie moments was when Jack Nicholson, in THE SHINING, improvised—-“Heeeere’s Johnny.”

For a time, my son, Josh pursued a career in theatre. He was also a member of an improvisational comedy company that entertained in the U.S. and England. I am convinced that the skill of playing a character, without a script, and seeing how that character reacts in different situations has helped him think more creatively.  Additionally, his wife, Barbara said, “I can’t stay mad at him, because he always makes me laugh.”

Paul Simon said, “Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.”  I guess he got that from George Burns who said, “If you’re going to ad lib, practice it first.” I would define improvisation as heightened communication with no moral implications such as telling a lie.

A lie is a statement used intentionally for the purpose of deception, and carries a negative connotation. Big lies trick people into believing false or misleading information.  Big lie or little lie, the truth always comes out. In other words, “When the tide goes out, you’ll see who’s swimming naked.”

Esther Blumenfeld (“A lie gives you the highest quality at the lowest price.”) anon