The other day, I had the opportunity to hear Kat Edmonson, a jazz singer, talk about her singing career. She posited that the creative life is one of saying “yes” and of being willing to take opportunities and chances. I share her sentiments toward the creative life, so it was a joy to listen to her speak about her own journey.
Creativity
Precipices and the Creative Life
To be a writer (insert “artist,” “musician,” et cetera) is to embrace fear. It’s to embrace a fear of failure. It’s to embrace a fear of success. It’s to embrace a fear of the known and the unknown.
What is Failure?
Perhaps failure is a gift. Perhaps it’s the muse, as Hugh MacLeod suggests. Perhaps it isn’t the terrible thing it sometimes is made to be.
And the Winner Is…
And the winner is…not Michael Schechter. Sorry, Michael. The winner is Jason Konopinski. I’m almost certain he’s going to celebrate with a Snoopy dance; at least, I hope he’s excited enough about winning that he’ll want to dance a Snoopy dance.
Taking a Hard Fall
I have a fear of falling. I thought I overcame it during my martial arts days, but I didn’t. I’m still afraid of falling, and my recent adventures with roller skating and jumping on a trampoline have brought my fear to the fore.