I’m sitting outside of my new house–really, an old house with lots of old memories–watching and listening to the rain. Already, this house feels like a home. I have lived for the past 2 1/2 years by myself in a one-bedroom apartment. It feels good to live with people again. As I have told my roommates, I’m used to talking to just my cat, Oatmeal. He is a great listener, but not much of a conversationalist. And my roommates are great. Time will tell how well we really get along, but I foresee no problems.
It’s funny the kinds of things you have to get used to when you move in to a new house with new people: little things, like how to arrange dirty dishes in an unfamiliar dishwasher, and when you are allowed to use said dishwasher (and laundry machines) to take advantage of the off-peak energy prices. It’s also interesting to see how other people live. I think we all wonder sometimes whether our living habits are “normal,” and if other people follow practices that we consider to be common sense. I find that I am enjoying immensely the process of integrating my lifestyle with theirs. On many levels we are much different, but on others we are much the same. My roommates are deeply and fundamentally appreciative of the arts and of exploring the possibilities of their own unique contributions to the artistic community. Mike is a musician and the owner of a record label, and Chellise is a photographer. I am a Finance major. We all love beer. We are all now working at a local beer bar. Mike and Chellise are struggling with the challenges of managing the business side of their arts careers; the management of which, by definition, limits the time they have available to spend on the creative aspects of their work. I am trying to find a way to apply the skill sets I have obtained in college to further the development of my own passions. In reality, I am struggling to define what my passions might be. I do not have a natural ear for music, as does Mike, or a natural eye for photography, as does Chellise (as well as my budding photographer friend, Nick), but I find that I do have a mind for words and for numbers which, given the proper direction and the requisite energies, I can use to create for myself a fulfilling career. (For example, not to toot my own horn, as they say, I know few people who could craft the previous sentence as fully and succinctly as I just did. Read it again, it’s pretty good.) I don’t know how I will eventually use my skills to make my living, but I think that surrounding myself with impassioned people is a good start to finding my own passions.
I feel incredibly lucky to have found myself among a group of people who value so highly the process of developing creativity. We tend to think that artists are touched with a gift to simply create profound art. The same way we think that Lebron James is simply gifted with an ability to play basketball at a level unparalleled by anyone else. But we, or I, forget, or maybe never realize, how much work is really involved. Natural talent means nothing without the effort required to develop it. I am stunned, even in just a few days, at how hard my roommates work at their art. While I am wandering around doing chores, or reading, or talking to the cats, Mike is in his office, headphones on, working on his music or his promotions. Chellise is on her computer working with her photos. They spend an incredible amount of their very limited free time working on their art. We could all learn from their example.
My other roommate, Ryan, just came outside to hang out, so I am finished for now. In the meantime, work on your work and surround yourself with good people.
3 Comments
May 26, 2009 at 7:12 am
congrats. your blog doesn’t suck anymore. oh, and i can articulate a written sentence better than you any day. ;>
May 28, 2009 at 12:22 am
I’m not a great writer, I need to practice more. With that said, let me ask: why say, “to create for myself a fulfilling career”, rather than, “to create a fulfilling career for myself”? Is it grammar, personal preference, rhythm? Just curious.
Also, you should check out the book “Talent is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin. Through a number of studies he portrays success as function of only practice. Any so-called gifted individuals are not significantly different from the others, given sufficient practice. Anyway, I found it inspiring. The tasks of taking up an instrument or improving my photography (or writing) now don’t seem so daunting.
May 29, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I think that either version of that phrase would be grammatically correct, I just think that my version sounds better. I guess you would call that rhythm. That being said, I have never intensely studied the intricacies of “proper” English grammar and syntax, I have just developed a feel for them through years of constant reading. But I have found that most rules that I adhere to in my own writing have a basis in these “proper” laws of English, even if I couldn’t define what these laws are. I say that because there have been a couple of times when I was presented with an abstract rule in English, and I realized that I was already following it.
As for the book, do you have a copy of it? I would love to read it. I love that premise. It makes sense, too. I’ve always thought that 99% of what people call intelligence is simply the constant practice of literacy.