Live, Laugh, Learn: 4 Life Lessons Learned from Robin Williams

“There is still a lot to learn and there is always great stuff out there. Even the mistakes themselves can be truly wonderful.” - Robin Williams

Mrs. Doubtfire. The Genie. Peter Pan. Mork from Ork. Professor Keating. Robin Williams was the definition of an extraordinary person, some would even write that he was extra-extraordinary. He was ranked "The Funniest Person Ever", as well as a pioneer in the San Francisco Comedy scene in the late 1970s. However, there is much more depth to the man himself - the brilliant biography "Robin" by David Itzkoff dives into the late actor's upbringing, his rise to fame and blossoming as an actor and comedian, as well as his personal and psychological struggles. Here are 4 Life Lessons that I've learned and reflected upon from the remarkable life of Robin Williams.

1. Time Alone Builds Character(s)

“Don’t associate yourself with toxic people. It’s better to be alone and love yourself than surrounded by people that make you hate yourself."

As a child in suburban Chicago and later San Francisco, Robin spent much of his childhood alone in his parents' home. His father would travel frequently for work, and while his mother would be away with him, young Robin would often play alone in the attic with his favorite toy soldiers. It was here his imagination truly ran free, building out accents, backstories, and full-on battle scenes from colliding time periods (ex: the Armies of the Roman Empire battling with George Washington's Continental Army). This isolation may sound incredibly detrimental and lonesome, however many of these characters/voices would become the foundation of his stand-comedy routines in later years. The time alone, in a sense, built him as a performer, while also shaping his character as a person. The judgment-free attic became his canvas, a place where he could shape his future-performance art and truly, unrestrainingly be himself. Time alone (or as some call it "fallow time") has shown to have incredible scientific benefits, and in today's mobile-always-on world, it's beyond important we set aside time to "come home" to ourselves now and again.

2. Live Inside & Outside Your Comfort Zone

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

I think the "spark of madness" quote above is the one he's most notably known for. However, as Einstein famously said, "the definition of insanity (madness) is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Does this imply that Robin did the same thing over and over again? Comedy movie, comedy album, comedy specials? No. The important takeaway from this quote, in my perspective, is the "spark". In the emotive sense, the "spark" is the feeling, the drive to do something that you're immensely comfortable with (Comedy, Performance Art, Improvisation) while having the other foot land solidly outside that desired comfort zone (Drama, Music, Mimery). Robin exploded onto the Comedy scene in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of stand-up albums and comedy movies, however he also delved into the "spark" of wanting to do more, to challenge himself at the un-natural to him (in this case, comedy). While landing tremendous early success with "Mork & Mindy" and the film "Popeye", he did not want to be typecast as a comedian - therefore, he took on tremendously challenging roles such as "Moscow on the Hudson", "The Dead Poets Society", and "The World According to Garp" to step squarely into challenging dramatic territory, so much so that he learned Russian and how to play the saxophone for character quality and distinction. This delicate balance between comfort (natural comedic ability) and challenge (learned dramatic ability) truly set him apart from his peers. In truth, the "balancing act" between what we are given naturally and what we have to struggle/challenge ourselves with, while cumbersome and uncomfortable at times, is a dualistic dilemma each of us must face in our lives. Ask yourself and apply yourself to the question: how can we stay rooted, while growing upward and onward at the same time?

3. Realize & Improvise Life's Curveballs

“When you have a great audience, you can just keep going and finding new things.”

The above is from one of Robin's early spontaneous "Street" Stand Up performances in New York City, where during one performance a passerby doused him in water, spit on him, and cursed at him. His routine (both onstage and offstages) would constantly focus on audience engagement, improvisation, and "going with and finding new things". No microphone? No problem. Doused in water? Let's make it a pool scene then! No audience listening? Awesome, let's make up some characters (toy soldiers referenced above). This freedom of adaptation when performing, this "going with the flow" is something I've started to try and build more and more into my life, both personally and professionally. Product bugs? Let's find a solution together. Presentation not loading for a major client call? No worries, let's e-mail the deck to stakeholders and go from there. F Train delayed again? Looks like the ferry is running - let's ride! Robin's unique ability to realize a given situation, accept it fully, and overcome it with his lightning-fast improvisational skills is an incredibly impactful life lesson that I hope to carry with me for years to come.

4. Be Honest with Yourself & Others

“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anybody else to feel like that.”

Unfortunately, this is a lesson I learned from Robin's tragic passing that I wish he could have taken to heart. Throughout his life and especially so at the end, Robin battled constant demons of self-doubt and depression - these demons manifested themselves in the form of alcoholism, infidelity, rage, jealousy, and drug addiction. In addition, at the very end of his life, he was diagnosed with Parkinsons, a diagnosis that would change him for the worse. When friends and close family would try and engage him about it, he would laugh, crack a joke, and smile it off. This ear-to-ear grin masked a truly deep sadness and suffering unimaginable to anyone who would engage him while he suffered silently. Depression affects approximately 17.3 Million American adults in a given year, myself among them. We need to face our own demons, whatever they may be, with an honest perspective and an open mind. This begins with the face in the mirror, and the open honesty that comes with it.

Rest in Peace Robin - thank you truly for all of the Laughter & Memories.