I met some young guys in my neighborhood when I was out playing my ukulele. I notice that musical instruments act as small doors to others, allowing them to knock. I like this!
Two of these young men were around 20 years old, and the other 30, like me. They all lived close by and with their parents, wondering about what's next. I asked them questions about what they wanted to do, and they gave long winded responses.
"I don't have a good resume. But I guess if I spend some hours then it'll be ok. But they always tell me to fill out an application me online so it's annoying..."
"I really want to be a __, but I'd have to go back to school. But I want to get clean first and finish my detox..."
What's next? What a questions. And a hard one for a lot of people. It's a plague to young people since California requires a lot of money to pay rent, and the disillusionment with committing to the daily grind is very real. These guys wanted to work, but they wanted their work to mean something. I can relate.
I've felt this way in almost every job, often feeling guilty because I was lucky to even have a job. But our souls are loud and there is a different kind of work to be done on this planet right now. I really think people are being called to help others in a new way, break down systems, and be happy. Because joyful people actually help others.
But more about that in another post.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles releasing St. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club. It's a fabulously inventive album and highly creative- one of the first "art albums". They took risks and it has gone down in history. In fact, it changed history...inspiring progressive rock and other concept albums.
Yes, the Beatles had skill and money and noteriety at this point, but how did this happn?
It started when they were young and decided they could play music. Do you think they became the beatles because they had a degree? Because someone told them it was a good idea? Because they had nothing else to do?
Perhaps these reasons might get someone started along a path, but that kind of fire fizzles out fast. What you need is your very own volition. From there, who knows what you're capable of? A concept album that'll rock the socks off the world? A mural that'll inspire people to give back to their community? A bridge structure that spans across a huge river? You can change lives.
So, a note to my other artist friends: go to art school if you want (it can be really fun), practice practice practice, ask other artist questions, but always come back to this. The first and most important step to "doing it", is believing YOU CAN. And only you can do this for yourself.
Lots of love,
Annie