Art is what we call…the thing an artist does. It’s not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human. Art is not in the …eye of the beholder. It’s in the soul of the artist. -Seth Godin
You never really know what it takes to change something, you must simply and intentionally take the steps that produce change and hope for the best.
The change I’m referring to is an elusive one, and seems to be poking at my creative being. Is it a big change? I don’t feel like anything big is happening, but something seems to be.
Let me explain with a personal example that may be easier to understand.
Over the last few years I have become somewhat of a health conscious person. Not a nut that goes to extremes but I have become very aware of the food I eat and it’s effect on health in general. Three times in my life I have taken some serious steps to lose some weight. Once many years ago between my 8th grade and Freshman years of school. Again about 20 years ago when I became a somewhat lean mean fighting machine, (figuratively of course). I ran, biked and worked out daily and maintained a fit 180lbs for sometime. Slowly age crept up and about 10 years ago I found myself staring at 240lbs on the scale I reluctantly stood on. Wow I was miserable and I knew it. It took a few years to work my way up to that weight and during that time I was perfectly aware of what was taking place but it just didn’t bother me. Approx 6 months later I had the scale reading 190lbs. All it took was me deciding to do something about it. In one word, action.
Here’s how my brain works. I’m good with anything right up to the point that I’m not. It may a take bolt of lightning to strike and produce change in me but when it hits it’s a done deal. The same weight problem happened again about a year ago. I seen the scale say 225lbs. and I hated it. 3 months later it topped at 200lbs. Now there is still a slight problem here, first 20 years ago it was at 180, 10 years ago 190 and now right at 200. Hmm, I see a slight problem with this sequence, I don’t think I should be so fast to pat myself on the back just yet.
Past Roads Lead To Current Place
So, what in the world does this have to do with photography? It’s the quote at the beginning of this post. Particularly the words, “overcame the resistance”.
As anyone who checks in on this blog from time to time may notice it has been a better part of a month since I have posted anything, I even forewent the April wallpaper. It was kind of like the gaining of weight that didn’t seem to bother me. There is one difference now, I am acutely aware of bad habits and those that add no value to life.
I have been a lifelong procrastinator, always thinking about what to do instead of just doing it. I noticed I was getting that same feeling about my photography, writing and keeping current on this blog. Now I can’t honestly say a bolt of lighting has hit me but at minimum the hair on the back of my neck seems to be standing up. I am still reluctant, (procrastinating) on setting a specific schedule of posting but what I do know is a month is way too long.
I don’t say this because I feel I am letting anyone down. I do appreciate everyone who takes time out of their busy day to visit this site and see what I have been up to. It’s much more of letting myself down. Like taking another bite of cake just because it taste good even though your full. There must be a healthy amount of discipline when a decision is made to pursue a life rich in creativity. There is a line that divides wanting to do something and needing to do something, this line needs to be examined closely. For the side you chose will be plentiful with the paths that await.
I will end this little insightful post with once again the words of Seth Godin; “Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It’s in the soul of the artists.”
Talk with you again soon.
Past roads that lead to the present.
