When I was doing some spring cleaning yesterday (not because it’s spring but because it was suddenly a lot more appealing than working on the income tax), I came across this quote by Gracie Allen, of all people,
Each of us has been put on earth with the ability to do something well. We cheat ourselves and the world if we don’t use it.
I don’t know about cheating the world, but I would have cheated myself if I hadn’t developed some of my deepest interests and talents. That’s why part of my motto is
Find what you love to do and find a way to share it with others.
Then I read this quote by Barbara de Angelis in Grannymar’s recent Sunday One Liners,
No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. Your life, because of who you are, has meaning.
I have trouble with the word “special”, because it usually means better and greater rather than just different, but I do like the part about having something unique to offer and the idea of we’re all worthy of respect.
I was intrigued by Schmidleysscribbling’s comment about the quote,
Here’s to special. And here’s to togetherness. Always in conflict they are.
Do you agree with that comment? Do you think it has to be? Certainly a lot of people can’t tolerate people who are different than themselves — they think in terms of better and worse rather than different. Do you think that necessarily means conflict? It seems to me the best course of action, assuming one isn’t stuck, is to move on to find kindred spirits elsewhere. What do you think?
March 24, 2015
I personally would have preferred “unique” to special.
Me too.
I agree with Ramana on his choice of ‘unique’ because that is what each and every one of us is. Warts, hell, damnation and all.
“Kindred spirits”. Yes, of course. But that doesn’t exclude “conflict”. Quite the opposite. Some of my most kindred spirits and our opinions’ do find ourselves at loggerheads at times. How else would we “grow” (as you often say) if we didn’t step out of our comfort zone, got stimulus and impetus from someone who looks at aspects of the world from a different angle? Fertilizing each others’ minds.
“Find what you love to do”. Oh, yes, Jean. And then life makes plans so you have to modify your own.
U
Yep. Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens keep learning and growing. Find what you love and find a way to share it with others.
such wonderful comments here.
i never had a burning desire. odd.
like some people do… who have to paint or play music or figure things out.
i’ve been a skimmer of life i think. though i’ve waded in the depths too…
i love to learn and to grow. but i don’t label things. i don’t actually like labels.
though i suppose they are necessary.
unique and special are just other labels as far as i can see.
and right now in America there is a virtual epidemic of EVERYBODY! wanting to be special… selfies… “see me! see me! see me!” so …
i just don’t know. LOLOL. 😀
i often feel like a child here sitting at the grown up’s table. 😀
I’ve never grown up either. 🙂
It’s not about ego, it’s about making contributions from who we are. You do that all the time with your blog and comments on other people’s blogs.
I really had to stop and think about this one…
but I’ve decided that I must agree.
An example would be if you had a group of Artists.
Most times they are unique to the general population and yet when you throw these people together, even though they have Art in common, they will judge each other and label some amateurs, crafters and frauds. Thankfully I think most would be supportive and nurturing and be mentors to those struggling but there always seems to be some people in every group, who will critique and criticize someone “different” and togetherness will be lost.
I took an art class here once and the teacher said he had expected his fellow artists would have been supportive, but it just wasn’t so. I think it’s sad. What has your experience been like?
Have you ever read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way? it’s a very supportive book for creative people, and it’s very popularity indicates that support like that is needed. Books and blogging means where not limited to just the people we interact with every day.
Another book I enjoyed reading was Creating a Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd. The blurb says,
I especially enjoyed the anecdotes and interviews.
Another fun read was Be a Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell.
I read The Artist’s Way a very long time ago and might need to reread it.
Thank you for the other recommendations!
I will make certain to check those out.
🙂
xo
I’m in favour of the strategy adopted by Mr Jack Spratt and his missus. Specialness can be mutually beneficial.
😀 Brilliant.
I’ve had to do some soul searching quite a lot in the last few years, even decades, on where I want to be and have crossed back and forwards over the imaginary line of “best for whom or of what”
Today I made two (not finished) artworks relating to life – the life as it unwinds before you, around you and within you. Their basic substrate is dress pattern tissue. I see the dress and the pattern as something we do in life. We start with one type of dress, the fabric is chosen maybe by our Mother, then we learn to sew and we don’t want that shapeless dress nor that bright yellow/white polka dots.
As we go through life we alter that dress pattern – puffy sleeves, mini/midi length – cinched in waist, drop waist and so on.
We change our duds to be bright, be dull, all black and business like, we wear shorts in summer and thermals in winter…
We honour our own differences once we reach a certain age – you decide if you’ve at that age or not!
That’s one of the great advantages of getting older. My own metaphor was about writing — our parents and society gave us a rough draft to work from. It’s up to us to make our own modifications. Yours is much more colorful and compelling — I love it!
I have now decided to entry 2 pieces if possible in an art show coming up – titled “Seasons of Life” to be interpreted as we see it. Size restriction which why I was not happy with 16 x 16 x 16″ including the frame/support.
Plus recently conversing with artistic world about things to do with presentation at any of this type of show, what medium to use and for why. So I’m going to branch out a little – have to get my skates on with the mixed media piece I have chosen make. But I believe it is doable…