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Sink or Swim?
You always get to choose to sink or swim.
Probably the biggest certainty in life is the uncertainty of life.
Take it from me — today you might be chilling out, planning for tomorrow, and in that light take a walk to the post office a quarter-mile away. Then, unexpectedly, a week of your life has gone by that you have no recollection of — and you find yourself in hospital severely injured after being hit by a car crossing a street.
You may be thinking “that’ll never happen to me.” And I hope you’re right. Because it happened to me, and it sucked.
However, it was also one of the most profound experiences of my life. Why? Because it showed me unequivocally that you get to choose to sink or swim.
This example is extreme. But since it’s real, I think it excellently illustrates the point. Throughout your life, you have this choice: Sink or swim. Do or do not. Yes or no. Always choices and decisions to be made.
As an artist, this is fraught with numerous complications. There are the societal notions of the “starving artist” and difficulties making any money from your art, as well as other stigma attached to artists.
This applies whether you’re a painter, writer, sculptor, actor, woodworker, chef, opera singer, knitter, or any other pursuit of art…
