I hate the 'if you can do any other job, you should' bullshit that successful artists say. Its not true. And it has messed with my head for so long. The first guy who said it was Louie CK, may he rest in hell. I believed him and was like ‘shit, I could do other jobs, does that mean I shouldn’t try being an artist?”
This is great, Alex. I've done so many different jobs to pay the rent over the past decade. There is no worse feeling than working a job you hate (or, are simply indifferent about) just to pay the bills. It numbs you.
I was actually thinking lately -- sometimes, I get upset with myself for *not* pursuing a more traditional career path, or for closing certain doors. (At 36, shouldn't my resume be more coherent??) What I've realized is, consciously or not, I've been closing doors subconsciously as a way of forcing myself to focus on what animates me, what makes life worth living.
I wish I'd closed doors myself, consciously and younger, but better late than never.
I hate when artists say "if you can do anything else as a job, you should"
I’m very grateful I came to your writing from Side Channel. It’s really wonderful.
This is great, Alex. I've done so many different jobs to pay the rent over the past decade. There is no worse feeling than working a job you hate (or, are simply indifferent about) just to pay the bills. It numbs you.
I was actually thinking lately -- sometimes, I get upset with myself for *not* pursuing a more traditional career path, or for closing certain doors. (At 36, shouldn't my resume be more coherent??) What I've realized is, consciously or not, I've been closing doors subconsciously as a way of forcing myself to focus on what animates me, what makes life worth living.
I wish I'd closed doors myself, consciously and younger, but better late than never.
Here's to truly living!
Enjoyed it