Have been reading some of the writing of Brene' Brown
lately. We all need reminders like hers, daily. Brown
hits home with her writing about courage and vulner-
ability--to be vulnerable takes courage, and avoiding
vulnerability is the most disengaged and unfulfilling way
to live. This is why I post my art here, and continue to
put it out there.
 |
| Hearing You Not Being Heard |
I'll never forget the day that I sent my work out
to an artist cooperative in NYC to be viewed as they
considered me for membership. Besides the fear of
a fragile sculpture getting smashed somewhere along
the way, the vulnerability and fear of my own ego
getting smashed was excruciating. So why do it?
Why put myself through that? The only person who
could truly understand that day was my graphic
designer sister-in-law. I remember tearing up as I told
her, "No one will ever know, if I don't get my work out
there." The more I think about it now, that was the
beginning of the realization that I
need to make art to be
me and to connect to the world and others. I was feeling
fragile, but it was exhilarating when the gallery got back
to me. Yes, the sculpture made it there okay. Yes, they
wanted me to be a member of the gallery!
The more I put off this
need to make art, the more sick I
feel about facing each day. Being authentic and having
the courage to be vulnerable is the most hopeful way to
live. Yes, there are rejections along the way and many
people who just don't get it, but allowing the fear to win is
a way of rejecting yourself. Thanks Brene' for leading me
to what I hope to be a new breakthrough in my art,
parenting, and teaching!
“What’s the most significant barrier to creativity and innovation?
Kevin thought about it for a minute and said, “I don’t know if it
has a name, but honestly, it’s the fear of introducing an idea and
being ridiculed, laughed at, and belittled.” "
― Brené Brown
“Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability
determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our
purpose; the level to which we protect ourselves from being
vulnerable is a measure of our fear and disconnection.”
― Brené Brown
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have
done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who
strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who
does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at
the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and
who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.…”
― Theodore Roosevelt
"Connection: Connection is the energy that is created between
people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give
and receive without judgment."
― Brené Brown
