Thursday, September 29, 2011

In the company of greatness

What or who inspires you? What do you aspire to do or be?  Inspiration comes from a moment when the body and mind transcend all the noise that is constantly reverberating. It can be found in anything and can be perceived from something beautiful, awesome, devastating or unpleasant. It sparks emotions at a level that your entire being is overwhelmed, leaving a lasting impression.  It is that inspiration that finds its way into every creation and ultimately infuses inspiration into others.  Kind of like a domino effect, but instead it's a human effect. Moments of inspiration should not be ignored.  If they did, we would not have the great pieces from Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Mozart, Bach, the list is endless.   So be on the look out and seize those inspirations.  They may take you by surprise and slip away in an instant.  As much as you try to hold onto them, you can only commit the inspiration to memory and try not to let it get shuffled away into your sea of thoughts.  Often its those inspirations that drive your aspirations. Each day we have a choice to aspire; to be something better, greater, more compassionate, less controlling, less judgmental, kinder. Reach and aspire every day. Those who have achieved incredible goals or overcome monumental challenges are seen as an elite group, unattainable.  I beg to differ.  It's not a matter of magnitude in what you aspire to do, it's about making it count, and that is what puts you in the company of greatness.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Being true to your voice

In every form of art, there is a voice.  When we create, we need to be true to that voice.  Every message is relevant and when the art is genuine it easily touches the hearts and minds of others.  Take for example the concept of Harry Purple Monkey Dishwasher. When the idea was spoken, it came from the heart. It quickly took shape because it was fuelled by emotions and memories. A territory that cannot be judged or corrected. There is no black or white in this arena. Imagination does not need judgement to be validated. So back to Harry; the ideas flowed effortlessly and the story was crafted.  Although there were road blocks in bringing Harry to life, the core and message were untouched.  Why?  Because I didn't waiver from the essence of the character and journey he was embarking.  Some of the work needed tweaking but none of the work was compromised.  Being true to your voice is one of the greatest challenges in any creation.  Although others may say they can see your vision or have walked in your shoes, they don't see through your eyes and they are not the feet that carry you. Journey forward, listen to your voice and keep your imagination a close companion ... without it the strokes of the brush are blurred, the movement of dance is mechanical and the words on the page are simply strung together.  Your work will be loved by many and disliked by many others; but that's okay; that's what makes us all unique and why each piece that is created will reach out and speak loudly to some and whisper to others.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Staying in the moment

Everyone has experienced a power outage at some time or another.  It can be quite eerie, especially at night or in the early morning hours.  Not only are you surrounded by darkness but you are faced with an indescribable silence.  All the sounds that you have become accustomed to have been muted; except those in your mind.  Funny how they take center stage and reek havoc on your state of mind.  Thoughts that normally race by with little notice suddenly become loud and demanding.  Each one relishing your attention. The buddhists call it 'monkey mind' because most people have little control of those thoughts.  To achieve the ultimate silence and control requires a lot of time and discipline. Sure you can take up meditation at that point, but since the power outage may last only a few minutes or hours, why not just take the time and listen.  It doesn't take long to figure out what you are listening to is just a lot of meaningless chatter; but in that sea of noise are hidden gems.  Gems lost in a crowd of competing thoughts.  Enough thoughts to drown what could be an answer, solution or incredible idea.  Clearly the power outage (unless it goes on for days) doesn't afford you the time you need to uncover those gems; but don't fret, contrary to popular belief, you do have the power to take control.  Make your mind your friend and ally.  Start to walk around as though you are in a power outage.  Pay attention to your thoughts. Ask your mind to dig deep, past the countless pieces of information and open the gold mine of possibilities.  Think positive, creative, loving, peaceful thoughts and the universe will align itself with you; and before you know it, you will be crafting something amazing and meaningful.  So pick up your chosen tool of creation and wow the world.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Colours of Writing

What is your shade of writing? Remember back in the 70's when the mood ring was all the rage? Made of liquid crystals with quartz stones, the ring would change colour in response to the wearer's body temperature. Each colour defined the mood for the world to see.  So what does this have to do with writing? Like any artistic creation, writing comes from a place that is intangible. When thought has met with paper, each piece is neatly labelled in some type of genre so that the reader knows upfront the path they will be lead.  Necessary for the reader, but not the only thing. If one digs deeper, is it fiction, or, let's just pick a colour, is it red fiction.  What mood stirred the writer and can that be translated through the work. Sure, sure, we want to tell a great tale, but take away all the pageantry, what do we really want to achieve?  To inspire and to leave a marked impression that will linger and maybe even create a spark in someone's life.  Ah, the complexity, yet simplicity of art.  Whether it commands a tear or smile, the shade of writing is what will leave a lasting mood.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Putting yourself out there

It's funny, we take such great pleasure in crafting stories, drawing images, writing songs, choreographing dances, acting or pursuing sports, but in the end it's all met with trepidation.  Why? When we share what we create or have practiced for endless hours, we open ourselves to critiques, opinions and advice. We delight in positive reactions and we question ourselves when we receive harsh reviews. In most cases, we take the feedback and try to make it better.  In other cases we abandon it all together.  Many a time we have to convince ourselves that one negative opinon is not necessarily the opinions of the masses; but often times that one opinion needs countless reassurances to rebuild the confidence. Regardless of what we create and how much self satisfaction we get out if it, we ultimately seek acceptance. Our work is an extension of ourselves and when we present it to the world, we are putting ourself out there and being exposed to nay sayers.  So what do we do about it? We keep pursuing our passion. We continue to fashion our art, weave our tales and hone our skills; and through it all we feel the intangible reward of touching another life and stirring emotions.