I’d like to say I come up with it all myself.
The ideas
The words.
The work.
But I know as well as anyone who’s ever created anything
That singular creative ownership is a construct
That every idea, word, and expression of the work is a joint effort
A partnership with everything we come into contact with.
And so,
Here’s a short list of gratitude
For everything and everyone
Who has co-created alongside me.
I’m grateful for the quiet hours
When it’s just me, the blinking cursor, and a fresh cup of coffee
Exploring and uncovering the hidden world together
With a sun that always seems to rise too quickly.
I’m grateful for inspiration, sought out
On cold, biting mornings, face buried from the wind
On hot and sweaty afternoons, route picked by hopping from shadow to shadow
On the oft-traveled sidewalks into which I’ve worn grooves.
I’m grateful for inspiration, stumbled upon
In birds, clouds, and bits of fuzz on the breeze above
In graffiti, discarded trash, and cracks in the pavement below
In the endless, protracted conversation between all of it, ripe with nuance, meaning and memory.
I’m grateful for the path itself
With its ups and downs, twists and turns
For all that lies behind me
And all that lies ahead.
I’m grateful for company
Guiding stars to show the way
Co-creators & commiserators to help bear the weight
Fellow travelers in the fog, blundering forward together.
I’m grateful for the challenge
Every hurdle that forced me to dig and discover new depths of myself
The unending, setbacks, failures, and near-constant confusion
And the rare victories that make it all worth it.
I’m grateful to you for reading this
Me for writing this.
Mostly, when I stop to think
I’m just grateful.
I should stop to think more often.
Explore how to navigate a creative life that matters
This article originally appeared in my weekly Creative Wayfinding Newsletter. Each issue is the product of a week of work, and contains something not available for sale.
A fresh perspective, a shot of encouragement when you need it most, and maybe even some genuine wisdom from time to time.
Each week, we explore a different facet of the question “How do we navigate the wilds of creating work that matters?”
It’s something I’m proud to create and I’d be honoured to share it with you.
0 Comments