This entry is not endorsed by Starbucks or any of
its affiliate companies...although upon receiving a lifetime supply of
Cafe-mocha's I will gladly retract that statement completely.
An artist needs
their rituals, their self-made habits and their little place in the world to
create something out of nothing. Be it a mega corporation like Starbucks or the
struggling dive across the street. Be it with the use of their new shiny
ego-powered apple machine, or with a pen and paper, even a napkin will do.
We all need our small rooms on this planet to sit in, to be surrounded
comfortably by an air of possibility.
We all have
something to say, and no one knows if you will ever get the chance to say it,
or if anyone would even hear it once you let the words out in the open.
I can guarantee you one thing, all artists
have many orphaned projects that never cease to complain that they do not get
enough attention, and we artist know that these orphans are right in their
complaining, for we did once believe in our children, didn’t we?
Like
everything in life, we take our gifts for granted, and we forget the importance
of saying something, of saying anything that matters at all.
Like everyone
on this little blue planet, we forget our voices, and we listen to that critic
that hangs out on our shoulder telling us that we are not good enough,
that the project we are working on will no doubt fail upon completion, that it
will move no one at all.
Some of us
listen, and to be fair, most of us listen to this bastard critic; sometimes we
listen our whole lives through, sometimes that’s all we can ever hear, but I will no longer give him any time or
space to make his idle threats.
I found my
little point in the world, my place to create, and it is untouchable.
I finally
discovered the only place that no one can touch, and it does not subscribe to
over-priced lattes or clever marketing. It no longer needs a logo to sit
underneath or a room full of strangers as lost as I am.
I understand
now that my place is within myself, within my heart; a place that no one can
get to unless I open the door for you alone.
This place is
honest and pure, and although I may struggle against my own will, I know that
if I close my eyes and breathe deeply, and if I listen to the stillness long
enough, that I will finally find that place of untouchable truth; and from
there I will create something worth bringing in to this world.
There is no
guarantee that I will reach anyone with anything that I create, as there is no
guarantee that I will even reach myself, but that will not stop me from trying
to.
This is life,
and the answer seems very clear to me; the greatest show of appreciation to
this life is to create something in return, to try and reach out, as honestly
as you can.
Do not fear
the tears that may stream from your face as your vision takes shape in physical
form.
Do not
hesitate to follow through when your psyche delves into the realm of your inner
demons.
If you follow
this path with hope as your sword, and faith as your light, you will come out
on the other side, and both the world and your self will be better off for not
straying from the path.
This is my
life, my moment...my choice.
If you only
ever listen to one thing that I say in this lifetime, if none of my creations
ever reach you or your heart, just know this one thing, that what you have to
offer is worth fighting for, and no matter where you have to create it, no
matter how you have to create it, make sure that you do. For this world will be
better off for anything that you share with it. Have faith in yourself and do
not wait for anyone to give you approval of starting your journey. Friends,
enemies and even the universe has no power here. This is you and your time,
this is your choice to make alone.
Silence can
be a weapon used against yourself, so speak now and as loud as you can...and
never stop screaming "Hope!"
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