Several years ago I studied improvisation skills at my friend Holly Mandel’s school, Improvolution.  One of my favorite games was “New Choice”.    Here’s how it goes.  A group of players improvises a scene.  After a few minutes of allowing the scene to develop, the director calls out, “New choice!” and whoever spoke last has to improvise a whole new scenario on the spot.  Scary and fun, right?

Before studying improvisation, I’d never realized how important a skill it is for everyday life.  Even with that knowledge, I seem to need to learn the lesson over and over again.  Today I had another reminder.

While in line at the supermarket deli counter this morning, I missed a perfect opportunity to play “New Choice”.

It was 8:30am on a sweltering day in the Bronx.  I had a short amount of time in which to do some grocery shopping and get home to watch Darshan before Jonathan headed off to a rehearsal.

When I walked up to the deli counter there were three burly construction workers ordering sandwiches for their lunch break.  Each of them had a bag of three rolls from the bakery bin which they were handing to the deli guy, one by one, and ordering individual sandwiches.  It was taking forever.

All I needed was ¼-pound of sliced turkey and some provolone.  I was trying to wait patiently and appreciate the rare treat of having a few minutes to myself, but I just wanted to make these guys move faster!  I fidgeted and shifted my weight from side to side.  I sighed.  Loudly.  I bit my lip and checked my cell phone mindlessly.

As the guys chatted and complained about their jobs, the heat and their wives, I just wanted to scream, “Hey!  All I want is a little turkey and cheese!  Can’t you let me go ahead of you?  It would be such an easy and nice thing for you to do!  Hello?????”

New Choice!

Right there.  That was the place my inner improv director could have yelled, “New choice!”

Of course, this dawned on me only after I walked away from the deli counter in annoyance, without my turkey and cheese.

Now I see all kinds of different options.

New Choice:  “Excuse me, gentlemen, I have a small order.  Would you mind if I went ahead?”

New Choice:  Talk to the manager and see if there’s anyone to help the deli guy make sandwiches.

New Choice:  Settle into waiting.  Bask in the rare gift of free time.

New Choice:  Skip the turkey and get pasta.

New Choice:  Call a friend.

New Choice:  Meditate.

New Choice:  Compose this blog.

New Choice:  Visualize my next big business challenge.

New Choice:  Roll my neck, roll my shoulders, roll my wrists, fan my fingers.

New Choice:  Stroll around the store for a few minutes until the deli counter is clear.

New Choice:  Order lunch from the diner.

New Choice:  Sing along to “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens which was playing overhead.

So here’s my challenge to you.

Summon your inner improv director and give her a megaphone.

“NEW CHOICE!”