Month: May 2023

When was the moment we sold out our dreams? That we decided to start playing it safe? To not rock the boat?

It probably wasn’t a single moment but likely many. Over time, little by little, we gave in to the culture of settling.

The good news is we can make a decision now to do things differently. And over time, little by little, we can start to change.

It’s very hard to do creative acts without enough resources.

It’s also an opportunity.

While paint or money or time could be in short supply, creativity is a well that doesn’t dry up.

We can keep going to it again and again. We might not like what comes back but there’s always something you can pull.

Sometimes there is so much frustration and anger about how the world has treated each of us. We need somewhere to put it. We could simply take out the trash. Write a letter and then throw it away. Go for a run and blow some speed. Step back and then come back in a more clear fashion. Because when we don’t take out the garbage, it spills over into other areas of our lives and others have to then deal with it.

We can easily come up with many reasons why we should back off, play it safe, and not go for it.

All you need is one good reason to do it anyway.

That’s enough.

It’s truly magical. That in such a short amount of time, we have acquired so much knowledge in one central location that can be accessed by three-quarters of the people in the world in an instant.

But it is also an illusion in the sense that the internet is wrongfully perceived. This is nothing new even in this new chapter of AI and Chapt GPT. Most of the time, we use the internet in the wrong way.

Are we using it as a tool?

A way to connect?

To be entertained?

To be distracted?

Are we using it to be informed?

To solve interesting problems?

To see the world as it really is?

Since we spend so much time on the internet, we ought to have something to show for at the end of the day with it. If not, then we might need evaluate how we are using this thing.

Understanding that you are going to get tired, you are going to feel pain and perhaps suffer a little.

You also signed up for this run knowing this was going to happen.

The question then becomes where are you going to put all this in order to finish the marathon?

I don’t know any doctors that are under the illusion that Med School is going to be easy. And neither is boot camp or committing to a long-term relationship.

We need to hold a space to put the discomfort that adversity creates. Otherwise, we will never accomplish anything that we can point to and be proud of.

Tolerating is a muscle too.

When we frame problems as so big that there can be no possible way for them to be solved, we are actively positioning ourselves to be small. This is how we make it someone else’s problem—“What can I do? I’m just one person.”

Contrast that to a small role. A small role can make a big difference in a large scheme. Everyone has to do their part in order for this thing to function or to get better.

Think of it this way: Is now the only time to lead when we are called upon?

So what is our responsibility to others being one single person?

A lot actually. If we want it.

But that’s the thing, we can always say we are too small to make a dent in the universe. We can always hide behind the shadow of famous people. We can always point to someone else taking responsibility.

This isn’t to ignore how hard it is to change the culture for the better. It’s often a lonely path.

One sandbag won’t make a difference in changing the course of a river. But together, we can change the tide.

It’s not the fact that you had it bad but the perception that others had it so good.

We struggle with this image that others are happy while we suffer. Social media is a constant reminder of this. Sure the discourse can fall apart quickly. But often more than not, people are having a conversation of have’s and have-nots. And maybe this is the right conversation you want to have. But we also need to be clear, are we talking about justice or are we talking about some kind of status symbol or experience you are missing.

If you hope that the art you make can also support your lifestyle, it may be too much to ask from art.

For thousands of years, you made art because you wanted to. You made art because it brought you joy, happiness, and meaning. As a result, you shared your work with the tribe to bring everyone closer together.

Today, in commerce, we look to make a living with art. There is nothing wrong with that. You should get paid for your work. However, this is no guarantee. Make good art because you must. Not because you get paid.

We create in the service of art. And what you may be yearning for more than doing creative acts is what comes with a big hit–status, money, and title. You may just want to leave your job and sit at a beach all day. You could still do that anyway. Art doesn’t owe you anything.