What If You Thought About Starting 2023 Differently? You know, just a little. We’ll all do new things in one way or another. Let’s add our own signature to our work as if the goal was to make some art. To make our work personal and intentional.
And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke, poet and novelist
We don’t consciously tell ourselves, “I’ve gotta do better and I’ve got to start now.” Deep in the dark corners of our minds, that’s what’s going on.
But what if we tweak our perspective?
“And don’t forget to make some art.“
What if it’s about more than metrics, achievement, and contemporary measures of success?
Joe, a good friend of mine, shared this Neil Gaiman quote this morning on his socials, which gave me just the inspiration I needed—
May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
—Neil Gaiman, author
That’s an amazing wish for the year, isn’t it? Did you catch the part about making art? And he’s a writer! The key phrase is this—as only you can.
So, what if thinking differently about this year meant something like making art—your art! And not the kind of art most people think of when they hear the word.
Not painting. Not drawing. Not sculpting.
At least not in the conventional sense. Unless, of course, that’s what you want to do to make your art.
When I read Neil Gaiman’s quote above, I was reminded of an even broader and more inclusive definition. Seth Godin defines art this way…
Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does. Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.”
―Seth Godin, author and former dot com business executive
So, go out there and do your thing with the spirit of an artist…
Neil and Seth are essentially saying the same thing. Our work is both personal and intentional. It’s a human act.
And you know what, “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” —Neil Gaiman, author
So, what do you think? Let’s go make some art!
Be untucked.
p.s. Do you know someone who should be tapping into their inner artist? Think about sharing this with them.
Copyright © 2023 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved
I am struck by the Seth Godin quote in particular. I wish I still had his BIG art book. I remember well a Seth Godin two- day seminar I went to in NYC . He spoke about making your art….keep making your art. And ever since then, I try to approach everything I do in my life as a work of art. Like my “Lights On!” concept. Of course, I forget this a lot. But I always get back on the horse.
Thanks, Darla… I love Seth Godin’s definition of art!