Summer has gone quickly. It seems that way to me. I’ve been juggling several things lately: among them my script for American Crime, grading papers for a class I’m teaching, coaching clients and tending to things that have to do with my web series. In between all that, I eat, sleep and meditate – not necessarily in that order. I also exercise, hang out with friends, watch television and, occasionally read. (Well, audio books, but that counts.)
In my talks with creative folks this summer, I’ve run into an interesting duality.
We all want more than we’ve got.
That’s probably human nature. There’s stuff to accomplish, things to write and produce, awards to win. We work, we hope, we enter contests. We wait for approval.
Alongside my busy summer stuff, I’ve also been reminded about how short life is. News of death is not only in the media, but I’ve been hearing about people I know, my age and younger, passing away. (Boy, that seems heavy.)
My point is this: there’s a DREAM and there’s a LIFE. It may be honorable to toil in the service of one’s art. But it’s also honorable to live. It’s important to enjoy life, to cuddle, to celebrate. That, often, requires stepping away from the toil – lifting your head and feeling the breeze. There is no perfect art. There is no perfect script. There’s what you do alongside your life – not instead of it. There’s what you do in your art because your life introduced you to it.
The balance is everything.
Try keeping track of your work hours and your play hours. Think about checking in with other artists about your adventures outside of the studio.
Love the dream. Screw the dream. Find balance.
If you need perspective, or cheering on, reach out.
