I've always thought it was better to be persistent than brilliant. It might surprise you to know that I was NOT the star of my high school or college art classes (Though I definitely was on top in 3rd grade.) What I was, was stubborn. I'll take that any day.
Thank you, Anne. I hope to make up for that time! I’ve come to believe that the activities most meaningful to us are often the ones we hesitate to pursue, as if the stakes are too high to take that risk. The ugly head of Failure looming up! Such freedom in allowing myself to be vulnerable now…
Deb, I do relate! I can still see and feel my gold-painted Plaster of Paris handprint. Cracked and tossed some time ago, I think. Unless I'm wrong and it's in my deep-storage tub of childhood stuff, still cracked. Definitely made those hand turkeys, more than once. The most recent turkey I drew (a 1-minute exercise in a creativity class) had three legs, which I found hilarious. A different on-the-spot drawing I did of my inner critic shook me with its resemblance to an influence who believed that a person is top, best, winner, right, or nothing. A repeat of that exercise looked a lot like Dana Carvey's "Church Lady," and I realized it was an elder (not my mother or any relation) who'd repeatedly told me during my college years that studying literature and writing was a lazy way to get an education and would never translate to work.
Aw… this confirms what part of me already knew about us. And yes to mining. You have to dig through and deal with a lot of dirt and rock, but the gold is worth not the wait, but the weight you excavate! And there’s no such thing as lazy. It’s just a word used by people who think everyone should be like them. ❤️
"Sometimes the things we most want are where we erect the biggest borders. And when those things we want feel insurmountable, I believe they hold the biggest possibility of joy and sense of purpose...You might see that it’s child’s play. No voice that says you can’t, no rules, no inner parents, just first steps and next steps as they appear, one after the other...
Often, when people are really good at something, they tend to quit when they hit a wall. [so true for me!] It’s the ones who keep picking at that wall that bring it down and get to where they’re going. You can stop, and you can start again. Persistence is everything."
I've always thought it was better to be persistent than brilliant. It might surprise you to know that I was NOT the star of my high school or college art classes (Though I definitely was on top in 3rd grade.) What I was, was stubborn. I'll take that any day.
Thank you, Anne. I hope to make up for that time! I’ve come to believe that the activities most meaningful to us are often the ones we hesitate to pursue, as if the stakes are too high to take that risk. The ugly head of Failure looming up! Such freedom in allowing myself to be vulnerable now…
You're doing great. Keep doing it.
Deb, I do relate! I can still see and feel my gold-painted Plaster of Paris handprint. Cracked and tossed some time ago, I think. Unless I'm wrong and it's in my deep-storage tub of childhood stuff, still cracked. Definitely made those hand turkeys, more than once. The most recent turkey I drew (a 1-minute exercise in a creativity class) had three legs, which I found hilarious. A different on-the-spot drawing I did of my inner critic shook me with its resemblance to an influence who believed that a person is top, best, winner, right, or nothing. A repeat of that exercise looked a lot like Dana Carvey's "Church Lady," and I realized it was an elder (not my mother or any relation) who'd repeatedly told me during my college years that studying literature and writing was a lazy way to get an education and would never translate to work.
Keep mining for your gold. It all adds up!
Aw… this confirms what part of me already knew about us. And yes to mining. You have to dig through and deal with a lot of dirt and rock, but the gold is worth not the wait, but the weight you excavate! And there’s no such thing as lazy. It’s just a word used by people who think everyone should be like them. ❤️
Wow, this one hits home... thank you, Deb!
"Sometimes the things we most want are where we erect the biggest borders. And when those things we want feel insurmountable, I believe they hold the biggest possibility of joy and sense of purpose...You might see that it’s child’s play. No voice that says you can’t, no rules, no inner parents, just first steps and next steps as they appear, one after the other...
Often, when people are really good at something, they tend to quit when they hit a wall. [so true for me!] It’s the ones who keep picking at that wall that bring it down and get to where they’re going. You can stop, and you can start again. Persistence is everything."
Thank you! I get hit by it over and over. 😊