I'm ashamed to say it: I hadn't really experienced Hamilton until last month.
I'd heard of it, of course. Who hasn't? A phenomenon such as Hamilton doesn't require chronically online instincts to recognize the record-shattering musical. In fact, I was even faintly familiar with it before it became the viral sensation woven throughout the zeitgeist. Because back when it had recently premiered and was growing exceedingly popular in 2015 and 2016, there was some chatter about it within my university literature classes. A likely environment for murmurs about a musical to take place in, sure. Either way, I heard the dialogue and became intrigued.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, as they so often tend to do. And despite all the initial hype, I didn't take any action to seek out Hamilton. I think I remember streaming some of the soundtrack upon its release, most likely in an attempt to finally join the conversation. Beyond that, though, there wasn't any real effort put in.
Then, in 2020, when a recorded version of the theatrical production was set to be released on Disney+, I knew it was time to finally tap in. Luckily, the release date was near my 24th birthday, so I told my family that's what I wanted to do to celebrate: watch Hamilton and have some pizza. However, as we tried watching on the day of, I couldn't pay close enough attention to do the viewing justice. So, it quickly became background watching. All was well, I'd surely be able to watch it alone later that week…
Cut to 2025. While I was subscribed to Disney+ the entire time, I still hadn't gotten around to watching Hamilton. It'd been five years since the release, come and gone. "Watch Hamilton" was even listed as a to-do on my calendar for a while—one that I'd reschedule as other things predictably came to the forefront—until I eventually deleted it. The movie's listing also sat on my Letterboxd watchlist, getting increasingly buried as other films were added to the endless queue.
Things finally changed on Monday, September 8, 2025. After I checked out of work for the day, I went to my local AMC and took a seat. Overflowing with anticipation, I smiled as the lights dimmed. I was finally about to watch Hamilton on the big screen in celebration of the monumental musical's 10th anniversary.
The Viewing 🍿
It happens more than I'd like it to: All your friends rave about something. Much of culture seemingly adores it, too. Not only that, but years of expectations also come into play. Be it a classic film, a work of literature, or a groundbreaking musical about one of America's Founding Fathers, all of these factors make way for something that you're undoubtedly going to love when you finally encounter it, right? Well, not always. Actually, more often than not, I've found that this kind of headspace can cripple a work before it's even experienced. There's just too much pressure on the art.
Even so, every once in a while, a gem emerges that combines all these factors, including numerous accolades, and still manages to meet atmospheric expectations. Well, I'm happy to report that Hamilton is certainly one of those gems. Not only were my expectations met and surpassed, but I thought that this was genuinely one of the most powerful and life-changing works of art that I've experienced in a long time. I don't say that lightly.
First, the music. I'm surprised by how much of it felt so familiar. I guess a soundtrack that grand does find a way to get absorbed, even if not always purposefully. (Yes, it's been on repeat since the viewing, too!) Additionally, I find it so impressive that Lin-Manuel Miranda was able to make American history digestible and, well, interesting. There's complexity and nuance in every bit of the writing, as there is within the source material Lin worked with. Simply stated, I was genuinely enamored with the feat that the production accomplished. Everyone had been so right about Hamilton. Not only do I now get it, but consider me obsessed.
Takeaways as a Writer 📝
I can only dream of creating something that has even a sliver of the impact that Hamilton has had on culture and the world. However, for that to be remotely possible, I must write first.
As a writer, "Non-Stop" was a song that drew me in immediately. Some of the lyrics include:
How do you write like you're
Running out of time?
Write day and night like you're
Running out of time?
How do you write like tomorrow won't arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write every second you're alive?
Every second you're alive? Every second you're alive?
These lyrics remind me of a foundational truth that we all know, but don't always live as if we know it: We are, in fact, running out of time. As far as we know, we have a limited supply of time here on earth. So, why do I continue to waste it doomscrolling or saying yes to things I don't want to? Why do I keep trudging through a book that isn't doing anything for me? Or hate-watch something just to check it off a box? Why, why, why?
Sure, comparatively, the kind of writing Hamilton was doing carried significantly more weight and importance. Even so, my stories and the work I create can make a difference. But they won't do anything for anyone if they don't exist.
Don't Throw Away Your Shot 🎯
As I grow older, the pithy statements and anecdotes ring increasingly truer. You know, all the ones relating to life being short and how we shouldn't waste it? Yeah, those.
Because in the same way that the five years blinked by from my first attempt at watching Hamilton, to my actually watching it last month, I'm sure five more are going to vanish here any second. So, how do I really want to live my life? If I want writing to be a significant aspect of my life, I sure as hell need to write as if I'm running out of time.
I know I'm not alone with this predicament. You might have something similar that you're wrestling with: starting that business, asking that person out, or finally tending to your garden. Whatever it may be, do it. Find some steps that you can begin taking towards that finish line today.
As for me, I'll await my chance to watch Hamilton on stage next year. Until then, I'll keep writing to bide my time.
