Perseverance
What is it that makes a person stick to something when all signs point to quitting? Why are now-famous authors gifted with dozens or even hundreds of rejection letters? What makes a musician work late into the night in his living room recording studio or in bars until 2am testing new material? Why does a single mother of three give up her kitchen table so she can leave her brushes out just in case she can find three minutes of free time to paint?
Is it faith or blind hope? Determination? The dream of a better and more fulfilling life? The American (Idol) Dream?
I think that for most of those people, creating is in their blood. They can't NOT write, paint or compose. I know, for me, it would just be easier to give it all up and just get a regular job; a steady and reliable income. It would be easy to just go to work, collect a paycheck and leave all the troubles at the office. But I can't.
And so I persevere. I carve out bits of time to make something fun and new. I become the artist, the PR person, the marketer, the tax expert, the web designer, the blogger, not to mention the mother of two. I take every Friday and one Saturday evening a month with no pay to be in the gallery, chatting with strangers, and hoping that something I've made or something I say will inspire them to buy my work. Maybe I will move someone to create something of their own. Maybe I will be published or discovered or sought after for wonderful commissions. Someday I know 'that person' will see my work and absolutely love it. The Universe will bring what I am supposed to do with my life together with the person who can make it all happen.
And that is why I can't give in to what's easy. I need to do what feeds my soul. And if I feed myself right, I will grow to be something more than I am today. Something that I am proud of and that my children will be proud of and something that will endure past my time on this planet.
Is it faith or blind hope? Determination? The dream of a better and more fulfilling life? The American (Idol) Dream?
I think that for most of those people, creating is in their blood. They can't NOT write, paint or compose. I know, for me, it would just be easier to give it all up and just get a regular job; a steady and reliable income. It would be easy to just go to work, collect a paycheck and leave all the troubles at the office. But I can't.
And so I persevere. I carve out bits of time to make something fun and new. I become the artist, the PR person, the marketer, the tax expert, the web designer, the blogger, not to mention the mother of two. I take every Friday and one Saturday evening a month with no pay to be in the gallery, chatting with strangers, and hoping that something I've made or something I say will inspire them to buy my work. Maybe I will move someone to create something of their own. Maybe I will be published or discovered or sought after for wonderful commissions. Someday I know 'that person' will see my work and absolutely love it. The Universe will bring what I am supposed to do with my life together with the person who can make it all happen.
And that is why I can't give in to what's easy. I need to do what feeds my soul. And if I feed myself right, I will grow to be something more than I am today. Something that I am proud of and that my children will be proud of and something that will endure past my time on this planet.
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