Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.
In Words {via Relish Life}
What quote, or line from a poem or a song, most captures what this year was for you?
I posted this quote by Ira Glass back at the beginning of August just before it went completely viral and was on every creative blogger's site {not to suggest I had anything to do with that. HA! Hardly.}. It really resonated with me because I know I am "in the gap," and probably have been for a long time. I'm confident I have really high taste level when it comes to design, writing, interiors, fashion, etc. I love that I can see the common threads that run through my Pinterest boards and Etsy treasuries and how they influence my own personal and design style. I understand when something can be considered good design even when it doesn't appeal to my own tastes, and I definitely know what doesn't qualify as good design-- the design snob in me comes out on a pretty regular basis.
Yet, I've spent a lot of time disappointed that my own work and creative output doesn't live up to my expectations, just as Ira spoke about. Whether that be from a lack of life experience, the fact that I was mainly trained as a print designer in what's now a heavily online world, or simply a lack of confidence that keeps me from pushing myself through to the next level, I've let this experience of being "in the gap" trip me up.
Hearing Ira speak about this as such a normal part of the creative process has really helped me shift my perspective. It gives the days of slogging through mediocre work a possible light at the end of the tunnel. It makes me consider the successful artists, designers, and writers that I've put on a pedestal as people who've pushed themselves to get out of this gap instead of people who've just been lucky or blessed with something I think I don't have {even the amazingly successful Elsie shared that it took her years of playing around with her style and pieces of her life before it felt like it came together}. Instead of freaking out and thinking that everything I do sucks, I'm shifting my mindset to look at the things I produce as stepping stones to get me where I want to go. It's all a part of the process. Keep going.
Runner Up Quote of the Year: "Follow your heart" by Steve Jobs
Wow. I love this. I had seen the video/quote a while back, but it made me more nervous than anything! :) I love how you are living in that gap, embracing it, and fueling yourself forward on trust and faith that you will get there, in your own time. So amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI so get what he and you are saying. I am the queen of inbetween. My whole life has been about the inbetween. But I keep working, writing, drawing, painting, creating because it is all I can do. Someday... SOMEDAY I will come into my own. I keep hoping. Never give up on doing what you love.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
You can check out my post for this prompt at
http://www.shadowrhythms.org/2011/12/changing-my-life-with-music-relish119.html
@rebecca ~ It makes me nervous too, for sure, because who knows how long this process could take? But I think it's comforting to know that I'm not alone and that I'm not *BAD* at what I do just because I'm conscious of the gap.
ReplyDelete@Morgan ~ "Queen of inbetween" ... I so hear that!