i had a brilliant conversation with a very wise man this evening. it wasn't long, but it was one of those conversations that you wish you had. all. the. time. of course you probably wouldn't appreciate them as much if they were common, but suffice it to say that this is was a good one.
this very wise man lives from his creativity. very successfully. because he dares to do so. and i talked to him about that daring and how it came about.
he said something very interesting (many things, actually, but we'll just take the first one for now because it's late and i have to get up early). he has this theory that we spend very little time inside of ourselves, being who we really are, in the here and now. that most of our time is spent outside of ourselves - looking at the future or the past. and this conflicts with my favorite barbara kingsolver quote about "you never know how inside of themselves people are." which may now have to be amended to "you never know how inside of themselves people aren't." which is an entirely different way of looking at things, isn't it?
and he asked me what i'm really good at. and i think it's a question worth pondering.
what are you really good at?
15 comments:
Ah, but having talent is so critically important. So too focus and the ability to see things which most do not see ... then having a belief system which fuels and drives the art.
If I had to pick one thing I’ve noticed in really good artists - it is their single-mindedness when in their creative mode.
That idea of being in the now was one of the central themes of a book I just finished reading.
And here I thought I spent too much time inside my head. Perhaps I do, but it's unproductive time spent.
I'm still wondering what I'm good at.
I want that beautiful chocolate...now!
i'm very good at seeing both sides of the story and being a fair judge. i'm a good listener and give great advice (but i suck at taking my own). i love figuring stuff out.
He was a wise man. I love your rearranged quote too.
I know what I am very good at as I have been able to do this all my life. Listen.
I can listen to anyone about anything and I usually don't interrupt unless I need clarification. I wait for them to finish what needs to be said. When they are done I know to wait. Sometimes all people need is to talk and have someone listen but if they indicate that they need something I can give them something small and discrete that I gleaned from the entire conversation and I have found it is usually the gem of knowledge or inspiration that they needed.
I am a quite man who listens and learns. But people love to come to me with anything as they know I listen.
Now if I could really succeed at something with that ... that I need to ponder more.
Good posting and thank you for making me think. I love people who make me think.
I've always thought that I spend too much time inside myself...but maybe that's a good thing?
And it is a question worth pondering, one I ask myself often. I keep thinking that eventually I will find the one thing that I am so good at that it will eclipse all the other things.
Too bad that it was already late because i would like to hear more. Thanks for sharing this gem.
e.
my word: expla
the first part of explanation!!!!
Hhhmmm I definitely spend more time within that out. As for what I'm really good at . . . that would be difficult to answer. Great post.
What did you come up with? I think you can be good at something without having an artistic talent, but I think being artistic is what you are good at!
I think I am good at looking after people, and being caring.
These are the very things I've been pondering lately, and while I am good at a lot of things, I am master of none. I feel as though I have been floundering and wasting time, taking care of others mostly..which has not been a waste of time, but it's time for ME. And I'm clueless.
What have you come up with?
I love this post, and am so happy for you to have this kind of conversation!
We are such doers - we are always doing, accomplishing, going. To achieve that kind of look inside ourselves requires us to stop, to reflect, to listen for the answers. Seems like that's sort of last on my list of things to do, when in fact it should be first.
Oh, what can get revealed if we look inside!
I should've also mentioned the simple concept ... doing it. Dithering has it's place while sitting in a bar or lounging in the sun but doing art is an active process ... usually driven by one's own memories, by something recently seen... by whim, by anger .... by a host of internal reasons ... there's the need to make a statement about something.
As historic examples, van Gogh and Picasso both cranked out art ... thousands of things. Each had the skill, vision, obsession and the selfishness ... and they made art.
telling stories. when i sit down and put my mind to it, and don't just try to put together something quickly!
Oh this is fascinating. It's too late and I'm too knackered to think it through properly but I know his question and his pondering will stay with me.
What a wise chap. Where did you meet him...up a mountain?
xx
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