I woke up extremely anxious. Looking around the room for something that might calm and inspire me, my eyes scanned the bookshelf. Though many of the books had accompanied me on numerous moves over the last 10 years, most had never been opened. Knowing that their patience was wearing thin, and feeling that the guidance I was desperately seeking must be on their pages, I chose ‘The Artist’s Way.’
As I read the first chapter, I found my first jewel; “Our tears prepare the ground for our future growth.” If that was true, it was a wonder that I had not grown into a National Forest by now. Even so, I knew there was some truth in it. When the book asked me to set time aside 15 minutes each morning to write ‘morning pages’, I purchased a journal with a bright smiling sun on its cover to inspire brilliance and obliged, even though I knew that most of the pages would be filled with verbal diarrhea. It had been years since I had written, though in my heart I knew that I was, and always would be a writer. As I thought of ideas to plan the weekly ‘artist date’ with myself, visions of sitting in a romantic restaurant all alone made me laugh out loud. But, as I read the first week’s exercises on creative recovery, protecting the artist child within, and giving yourself permission to be a beginner, I was sold. I knew that if I continued to run away from my creative side that it would find me around a very dark corner one day.
After a few playful and intense weeks together, I found myself falling in love with ‘The Artist’s Way’, and I knew that I wanted to introduce it to my parents. Through its words and questions each week, it inspired me to look at the past, present and future in a whole new way. Each morning I opened the book and read a passage or quote that would begin my thoughts and writings for the day. No matter what was going on in my life, the message was always poignant, and the writing proved cathartic.
“The Artist’s Way” focus is to help you re-discover your creative self, and everyone who crosses its path is better for knowing it. Its brilliance can be seen by anyone who wants to remember or reconnect with their authentic self, goals or dreams. It informs us that; “To kill your dreams because they are irresponsible is to be irresponsible to yourself.” It invites you throw caution to the wind and enjoy the journey wherever it may lead. It reminds us that “each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is”, and that “The truth revealed by action in the direction of your dreams is that there is room for all of us.” It even advises us to “call fear by its right name.” In other words, it does not let you off of the hook, however creative your excuse.
To me, the best books are alive, growing and breathing. They communicate with us in special and different ways each time we read them. Many become the backdrop for defining moments and speak directly to us at the perfect time with the perfect message. I can honestly say that over the years since we first met, ‘The Artist’s Way has done all of these, and in addition, supported me, and kicked me in the behind each time I needed it, earning a prominent place on each bookshelf.
It now sits next to my 14 month old sons’ books, and although he mostly just wants to eat his books, I know in my heart that one day, he too will have his favorites that will support, intrigue, affect and foster his imagination. I hope that one day, “The Artist’s Way’ or another special book will call out to him in the same way. Perhaps if he reads that “What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do” at an early age, his path will be more direct than mine.
Link to it on Amazon in case you are so inspired.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 06:02PM