The cool part of being an entertainer is getting the opportunity

“The cool part of being an entertainer is getting the opportunity to get your feet wet in all areas.”
— Paula Abdul

In these bright and joyful words, Paula Abdul speaks not only of her life in the realm of music and dance, but of the deeper spirit of creativity, curiosity, and courage that lies at the heart of all artistry. To “get your feet wet in all areas” is more than the playful image of a performer trying new stages—it is a celebration of the human impulse to explore, to learn, and to grow beyond the boundaries of comfort. It is the voice of one who knows that to live as an artist is to live as a student of the world, ever open to new forms, new expressions, and new challenges.

For the entertainer, the world is a vast ocean of possibility. One day, the tide may carry them toward the rhythm of dance; another, toward the poetry of song, the art of acting, or the grace of choreography. To “get your feet wet” in many waters is to embrace the fullness of being alive—to refuse confinement, to reject stagnation. Paula Abdul’s life itself is a testament to this truth: she began as a cheerleader, became a choreographer, ascended to the heights of pop stardom, and later transformed into a mentor and judge, guiding others on their path. Hers is the story of one who understood that each art form is but a different shore of the same creative sea.

This spirit of versatility echoes back to the ancient ideal of the polymath, embodied by figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, who refused to be limited by any single craft. Painter, inventor, musician, engineer—Leonardo walked fearlessly into the unknown, letting his curiosity lead him from one discipline to the next. He did not wait for permission to begin; he learned by doing, and in doing, he mastered the unity between art and life. Paula Abdul’s quote carries this same wisdom in modern form: that greatness does not come from staying within one pool of knowledge, but from immersing oneself in many. Every experience enriches the artist; every attempt refines the soul.

There is a hidden humility in her words as well. To “get your feet wet” is not to boast of mastery, but to embrace the beginner’s spirit. It is to say, “I am willing to learn, to stumble, to grow.” The ancients called this humility metanoia—the willingness to be transformed. In the artist’s life, as in the life of any seeker, this openness to experience is the source of vitality. When one allows themselves to enter new waters—be it a new role, a new art, or a new stage of life—they awaken again to wonder. They remind themselves that creation is not perfection, but discovery.

And yet, Abdul’s insight stretches beyond the stage and spotlight. For though she speaks as an entertainer, her wisdom belongs to all who strive to live fully. Every person, no matter their craft, is called to explore the breadth of their gifts. The teacher who learns to paint, the builder who learns to write, the leader who learns to listen—all are entertainers in the grand theater of existence, daring to step beyond the familiar. Life itself is a performance of infinite acts, and the soul that remains curious will never grow weary of its role.

Let us, then, learn from this teaching. Do not fear the unknown; wade into it. Let your heart be the compass that leads you to new passions. Try, fail, and try again. Dance though you are unsure of the steps, sing though your voice trembles, speak though your words are unpolished. Every new skill, every small courage, adds another color to the masterpiece of your life. To live shallowly is to remain dry at the edge of the river; to live boldly is to step in and feel the current of possibility against your skin.

So remember this, traveler of time: the cool part of life itself—not only of entertainment—is the chance to “get your feet wet in all areas.” Each new endeavor, each unfamiliar challenge, is a doorway to wisdom. Walk through it. Let the waters of learning cleanse your fear, your doubt, your hesitation. For the soul that dares to explore will never run out of horizons, and the heart that welcomes every experience will always find itself renewed—forever dancing, forever growing, forever alive.