As
I was thinking this morning an old thought came by to visit. Am I
overlooking my next inspiration or opportunity because I am looking for
the familiar. We all do it unfortunately, expecting the next
opportunity or inspiration to be packaged the same as the last
resulting in us missing a great opportunity or inspiration that was
right in front of us. Years ago I wrote the "parable" below for a
friend who could not see the incredible opportunity in front of them
because they were looking for the familiar. Today don't miss out on
the next inspiration or opportunity because you are looking for the
familiar.!
It’s always been an open door.
(© De Olkiewicz)
I
had been at a point in my journey in life of transition. I had just
been through a season of simply sitting and drinking in the wonders of
life and all that surrounds us and now I could feel the gentle breeze
upon my heart stirring of a new season ahead and could sense it was
time to get up and walk ahead. As I picked myself up, a self that was
strange and different from the self I had always known, and began
walking steps, steps that were shaky and unfamiliar, I found myself
looking for the opening to the next opportunity in life; I was looking
for the open door.
As I slowly walked steps still shaky, self still strange, it wasn't
long before I paused for a mere second at an open window. I glanced at
it, even thought I heard my name whispered from inside it but then I
quickly moved on, because it had always been an open door.
As I walked more, steps began to become steadier and self became more
familiar I paused again, this time at an open gate. I looked at it,
even thought I saw what looked like the faint outline of my name on its
post yet I quickly moved on, because it had always been an open door.
Now as I walked, steps were stable and self felt more natural, I paused
for a brief moment at an open box. I stared at it with some intensity,
even thought I felt a stirring in my heart that it was for me, yet I
moved on, because it had always been an open door.
Time had put much distance now between the unsure steps and the unknown
self that I had known as i walked away from that quiet season that was
all about simplicity, the step now was sure, the self a confident
companion, again I paused this time at an open flower. As I admired the
beauty of it, I thought the fragrance seemed to be solely meant to
perfume my life but I moved on because it had always been an open door.
Steps now were strong and self was an old friend as I continued on and
I found my self standing before an open field, freshly plowed its depth
wide open to the world. As I breathe in the air of anticipation and
expectation that leapt forth from it I know my heart was stirred, yet I
continued on because it had always been an open door.
Finally the season of night began to close around my journey, the step
weak from time the self weary from life, as I found myself about to
close my eyes and enter into the sleep of death, I wondered why I had
never found my next opportunity, because it had always been an open
door.
There is nothing wrong with comfort it is a wonderful thing but I am realizing that it can hold back creativity. In my recent pursuit of being true to the artist I was meant to be I have discovered that the "comfort" of doing things easily (which most of the time meant going to the store and buying what I needed) stifled my creativity and my inventiveness.
Recently I have wanted to improve my lighting set up for photography however there is not really enough money for necessities so I certainly couldn't buy a new set up. I was forced to use my inventiveness and creativity and I have managed to come up with some new lighting options for only a few dollars. A fellow photographer raised the question has digital created a generation of bad photographers who can post process anything to look good? Has it become easy to "point and shoot and review" then delete or say oh I can fix that in Photo shop rather than to get the great shot straight out of the camera.
I for one believe you have to have at least a good photo to start with to make a great one with processing tools, but I think he has a valid question. In the past it was expensive if you had to shoot 3 rolls of film to get one great shot, thus you were more creative, careful and attentive to details before and on every shot. Yet on the other hand, programs like photo shop allows some to explore their creative and the artist within that would not have had it not been for the program. As always "great" art is subjective, yes we can measure technically if it is correct, however it can be poor technically and move people and be great art.
I think we as artist need to evaluate our comfort and see if it is holding us back. Do you strive to improve on your weak areas as an artist (and a person) each day so you can create a masterpiece or are you comfortable with just repeating what you are good at? Our lives and our art are like the wonderful handwoven rug, the front shows the completed product however if you turn it over you see knots and changes that helped to create the masterpiece.
Strive to make today a masterpiece in your art and your life!
