I’m always astonished to discover how different I am from everyone else. (Hey, no snickering, I’m being earnest.) How things that are true for me, just aren’t true for somebody else.

Here’s an example.

You know those alt tags for pictures on web sites?

(You know — for those of us who can see — when you mouse over a pic, and that little text descriptor pops up? It usually says something like “picture,” or “logo,” or it might just show the file name?)

Well, that text is there to tell people who can’t see it about that graphic. When I was in school, my web design instructor stressed the importance of filling in alt tag info on every image to make your web site accessible.

Okay, fine. Did I fill them in? Yes.

Was I phoning in the text? Absolutely.

…

Perhaps you’ve already guessed this, but I can see the pictures on web sites (*smile*). But I have a friend who can’t. Having her in my life changed my understanding.

Changing my understanding changed my approach.**

**Have you ever noticed how this is just true, true, true no matter what you’re talking about? Vocal improv, number theory, puggles?

…

Now when I work on my web sites, I imagine my friend asking me to describe the picture.

Do I say “filename = DSC009.jpg?”

Of course not (she has a cane!), I say “it’s a sepia-tone pic — so it looks like an old photo — of 4 kids sitting on the curb eating eating ice cream treats.”

…

So … what’s this got to do with improv? A lot.

Mostly it’s that whopper above about how we have to change our viewpoint or understanding before anything else can change. It’s one of my constant lessons from improv (and why it’s so good for us me.)

Considering the experiences and realities of people unlike me is just like introducing different inspirational tools to become a better improviser. Remembering to stay open and available to new directions, new perspectives and different viewpoints makes me a better improviser.

Doing it in my everyday life makes me a better person.

(Okay … I’m packing up my soapbox now. But, hey, I want to change the world. Don’t you?)