Ok, I obviously love getting rid of stuff.
However, there are two deep, deep, subjects that I balk at dealing with...ever.
Most things, with years of practice and continued philosophical testing have started to come easy.
Money management, after years of practice that's easy.
Clothes, love to donate them.
Dust collectors (statues, odd n ends), VERY easy to get rid of (maybe a little too fun to smash or shoot in the desert.)
Cheap things that are easy to repurchase, why do I even own these?
As for my two worst subjects....
Books....I SWEAR, I WILL read them.
Papers....I'm pretty sure they reproduce. They are impossible to truly get rid of. Especially when I have a note of inspiration scribbled on an old receipt for a book idea that I've had.
The thing about books is I come from a book culture. My family is full of writers. My mom is a librarian. I grew up with two very tall book shelves set prominently in our living room. I've been writing since second grade. I'm an avid reader and like to quickly acquaint myself with whatever local library happens to be near by. I've always had a book shelf stuffed with books. I cry whenever I read about how the Nazi's burned books. Barnes and Noble is my happy place for spending money.
Granted, I'm not a stranger to donating books. It's just very, very, very difficult to convince myself that I will never read, re-read, or even reference a particular book. I try to think about it philosophically. Books are the absolute worst to move. They are heavy and awkward and if you're not reading them, they will collect dust. Once the knowledge or joy has been obtained, what use is it? I have a small collection currently with me and whole collection still waiting for me to sift through at my mothers house. Is it really worth it?
Yes.
Because I need them for professional reference both as a writer and as an aspiring body works expert.
What if I need reference materials when I retake certification exams?
What if this is the only reference I have to that particular inspiring myth?
It's a classic. I like to reread it.
Hello, it's The Hobbit.
I like books. I like having them. I like reading them. I like browsing my full shelf on rainy days and revisiting select passages. It makes my world complete. The only reason I'm not up to my eyeballs in books is because libraries exist.
I guess I can take comfort in knowing that I have the ability to donate books. It's just that more books than Marie Kondo would ever approve of still give me all kinds of joy. That's why, even though I love Barnes and Noble, I only visit once or twice a year.
As for papers. I do try, but I really do think they multiply. I try to revisit the subject on a regular basis for maintenance, but I'm pretty sure it's a losing battle.
We all have our struggles.
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Writer's Block
This post is for all of my creative people out there.
Creation is awesome.
We love to dazzle the crowd with every brush stroke, every word, and every note. To the people who don't share our talents we look like wizards pulling genius moments out of star covered caps. To them, it seems as effortless and easy as breathing.
Oh how little they know.
You fellow artisans know about the suffocating pains between each brilliant moment. The times when we aren't wizards and the magic is simply out of reach. It is a terrible time when the world is either too busy, too stressful, or there is simply not enough inspiration there to allow for creation.
It is the pain of these times that makes the healing moments of creation so magical.
Yet, when you are stuck in a creation-less rut, how do we get back to doing what we love?
It's not simple, and every artist is as unique as their chosen medium. Yet here are a few things that might help should you find yourselves stuck.
Take A Risk
Artists are people who are already willing to experiment and take risks so I recommend trying different things to stimulate the creative well. Do something new. Go on a special vacation that allows you time to experience rather than just go through the motions. Or, take a "sick day" that allows you the time to go and find what normally inspires you.
Revisit What Works
This one requires a certain amount of self-awareness. Most artists can tell you about the moment of creation, but some find it hard to recall the moment before. The set of circumstances that sparked the creation in the first place. Go back in time. What inspired you to start last time? Was it observing people in the park? Playing with kids? Trying a new recipe? Something triggered the creativity. Find out what it was and then recreate those circumstances.
Find A Model
There is a saying in the artistic community. If you want to master your craft, you first need to learn about the masters. Read about them. Study them. Try to copy them. Learn how they did it. Even if historic figures didn't do exactly what you want to do; knowing how they did it and knowing what was good about it can give you focus for what it is that you want to do.
Make Time
I know this advice is worn out. It's annoying when people imply that you can pull more time out of hat with enough faith and belief. We all know simply wishing for more time does not put more minutes in a twenty-four hour day. What those people are really saying is that you can sacrifice your least needed things for this important thing. The reason why you don't hear people using those words is because telling people to give up something isn't a good selling pitch.
It is true though, that people don't always spend their time wisely. A little schedule reorganizing and reduction of wasted time, and you may find a spare hour you can dedicate to creation. If your schedule is simply too busy to allow for it, then maybe this is not the time of your life to create. However, I feel like if not creating is making life totally miserable, then it really is ok to change things up. Get a different job. Reduce the demands on your time. Put first in your schedule what matters the most to your over all life goals. Then, when the time is available, be careful to not waste it. You worked hard to get that time. It'd be a shame if it was spent on a temporary show you kinda like but won't remember watching come next year.
That's all I have for you today.
Good luck my fellow creative people!
Creation is awesome.
We love to dazzle the crowd with every brush stroke, every word, and every note. To the people who don't share our talents we look like wizards pulling genius moments out of star covered caps. To them, it seems as effortless and easy as breathing.
Oh how little they know.
You fellow artisans know about the suffocating pains between each brilliant moment. The times when we aren't wizards and the magic is simply out of reach. It is a terrible time when the world is either too busy, too stressful, or there is simply not enough inspiration there to allow for creation.
It is the pain of these times that makes the healing moments of creation so magical.
Yet, when you are stuck in a creation-less rut, how do we get back to doing what we love?
It's not simple, and every artist is as unique as their chosen medium. Yet here are a few things that might help should you find yourselves stuck.
Take A Risk
Artists are people who are already willing to experiment and take risks so I recommend trying different things to stimulate the creative well. Do something new. Go on a special vacation that allows you time to experience rather than just go through the motions. Or, take a "sick day" that allows you the time to go and find what normally inspires you.
Revisit What Works
This one requires a certain amount of self-awareness. Most artists can tell you about the moment of creation, but some find it hard to recall the moment before. The set of circumstances that sparked the creation in the first place. Go back in time. What inspired you to start last time? Was it observing people in the park? Playing with kids? Trying a new recipe? Something triggered the creativity. Find out what it was and then recreate those circumstances.
Find A Model
There is a saying in the artistic community. If you want to master your craft, you first need to learn about the masters. Read about them. Study them. Try to copy them. Learn how they did it. Even if historic figures didn't do exactly what you want to do; knowing how they did it and knowing what was good about it can give you focus for what it is that you want to do.
Make Time
I know this advice is worn out. It's annoying when people imply that you can pull more time out of hat with enough faith and belief. We all know simply wishing for more time does not put more minutes in a twenty-four hour day. What those people are really saying is that you can sacrifice your least needed things for this important thing. The reason why you don't hear people using those words is because telling people to give up something isn't a good selling pitch.
It is true though, that people don't always spend their time wisely. A little schedule reorganizing and reduction of wasted time, and you may find a spare hour you can dedicate to creation. If your schedule is simply too busy to allow for it, then maybe this is not the time of your life to create. However, I feel like if not creating is making life totally miserable, then it really is ok to change things up. Get a different job. Reduce the demands on your time. Put first in your schedule what matters the most to your over all life goals. Then, when the time is available, be careful to not waste it. You worked hard to get that time. It'd be a shame if it was spent on a temporary show you kinda like but won't remember watching come next year.
That's all I have for you today.
Good luck my fellow creative people!
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