“If I only could
Be running up that hill
With no problems…”
Kate Bush is on my mind today. For those of you too young to remember, Ms. Bush was a fabulous 80′s musical artist who wrote this song about men and women not being able to understand each other. However, I’m likening it to getting my services out to the masses and the delays I encounter along the way.
Now, I’m not opposed to setbacks and roadblocks. Actually, sometimes, I kinda dig them. For in these delays / setbacks I find what I’m made out of. I find my dedication to craft, desire to win, desire to succeed and discipline needed to do just that. If everything came easily, I would miss out on these golden nuggets that bring me back to WHO I AM. They keep me focused on WHY I AM DOING THIS and they remind me to be GENTLE with myself.
While I chatted with a writer friend of mine yesterday, I reminded her WHO SHE WAS and asked her: WHY DO YOU DO THIS? IF the answer is public adoration, you are in the wrong field, my friend. Even the most revered artists have critics – Have you read J.K. Rowlings musings about her first attempts? You, me – WE do what we do because we MUST; because without doing it, something would be missing from our soul. The only person who you should aim to please with your ART – or LIFE in general – is the one who stares BACK at you from THE MIRROR. End of tale. If you understand that simple concept, YOU, my friends have struck GOLD.
And so… I plod on to bring my brand of ART and SERVICE to whomever it appeals to. Yes, I would like to make a living at it – wouldn’t we all like to make a living at what we love? I’m NOT Joan of Arc, for Pete’s sake! However, my Canon and I would not be parted if everyone HATED my stuff. If Herb Ritts came back especially to tell me I sucked, I would tell him, “Thank you,” and move on to the next set-up and snap that shutter per usual. Wanna know why? ’Cause I live to hear the snap of the shutter, the whir of the motor and see the image in my camera and up on my walls. Because when I see the soul of the people and moments I capture, the world slips away and I can be alone with the Universe THE WAY I SEE IT. And when it’s right, FOR ME… it’s a beautiful thing; just like when I see a client’s face light up upon seeing what I caught for them. THAT makes all the climbing, all the running well worth it.
So, with no further ado, I bring you ME. Straight-up with no gimmicks. Take what you like and leave the rest for someone else, please. Just remember what Moms taught you: If you can’t say something nice, say nothing. I’m cool with that.
Onward… back to the climb.
