#3 No choice but to persevere
Welcome to blog post #3 for The Insightful Creative.
Yes that’s me in the Alps. And my son, Luca, behind me, helping me navigate it all. It was fun, sort of. I was glad when I arrived to the top and enjoyed the best hot chocolate in the world.
Being creative can feel like climbing up a rocky ledge with cables and a lot of fear. I wobbled a few times and wondered how the heck I managed to let my son and husband talk me into this. Sort of like: how did I agree to play this piece on this concert or how will I be able to create a course from nothing and teach it in a few months?
Somehow we figure it out, with fear plus an unsure sense of “yes, I think I can do this” pushing us along. It would, however, be much less scary and much easier to just quit, and not go ahead or try hard/new things.
I am a Taurean, so for sure I can be guilty of wanting to opt for easier things. (Look up about us lovely but comfort-focused Taureans!)
However I do know one thing: when it comes to the things I love that move me, it’s important that I continue to challenge myself and push ahead in new ways that keep me curious and learning more.
What things do you love that keep you curious and learning more?
Recently I had a very painful professional thing happen to me (remember the “shit sandwich?”), and I’m still feeling it.
It was a blow that knocked the wind out of me (not good for a flutist), and it really set me back psychologically at first.
But then it (the awful thing) actually prompted me ahead. I love what I do too much to let it stop me, and I felt this sense of momentum, of going forward, maybe a sense of gratitude and also maybe a humbling feeling too.
On a related note, Laurie Anderson just released a new album titled “Amelia” (I have been enamored with Amelia Earhart for forever, and how much do I love this!), and I recommend this beautiful interview with her. There is also a recent New York Times story, found here.
This quote from her is just wonderful and perfect for this blog post:
"I’ve learned the most in my life by far at the worst times... when things really fell apart, when my life was just a total mess. Maybe that’s because you stop worrying about your ego and you become more open to things.”
Laurie Anderson
