My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.
Do the jobs you like least first. It makes each successive job easier.
No, there's not much competition between puppeteers in general because everybody's working their own style.
Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and most especially your heart.
I do remember doing shows strictly in black and white, too, so you're right.
The attitude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn from more than what you tell them. They don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.