Quotations Weblog

When Brian Bushwood was having trouble creating his own unique magic act, he wrote to Teller (of Penn and Teller) in frustration. The letter Teller wrote back to him was motivational for all artists, not just magicians.

• Brian Bushwood Bizarre Magic – 14 years ago: the day Teller gave me the secret to my career in magic.

Next time you’re feeling frustrated in your career, remember that everyone who is successful struggled as you are struggling now. They just didn’t quit when it got hard. They were willing to do magic shows in the blistering heat of the summer during a race riot in order to succeed.

Via: When we started we HAD no style – Wil Wheaton dot Tumbler

Photo Via: Wikipedia: Teller (entertainer)

Michele Shea is right. Creating something is a little like being God. You get to make something that did not exist before you put your hands to it. Whether it’s writing a story that has never been told before or creating an alternative to what is provided me, being creative has a sort of power to it that can’t be replicated anyway else.

Of course, that’s only if it works. For every finished creation, I have tons of aborted attempts that are boring, awkward or just plain ugly.

If you have been feeling down lately, try creating something new. It doesn’t matter what it is. Give yourself an hour or two every day to just make something… anything new. It’s like free Prozac, I promise.

For some creativity ideas, check out these websites:

• Craftzine.com blog

• DIY Crafts – Scrapbooking, Knitting, Sewing & Jewelry Making Craft Projects and Videos : DIY Network

• MAKE: Blog

This quotation is ruthless. Ideas like this can stop you in your tracks. If you have ever wanted to write a novel, don’t let G. K. Chesterton scare you away. Don’t worry about writing a bad novel. Do it! Write your bad novel! Then write another one. There are some authors who have made an entire career out of writing bad novels.

The “truth” that Chesterton is talking about is one thing: you are a WRITER. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have been able to finish that novel.

So, stop trying to write the perfect novel, short story, poem or even email. Just write it and FINISH it.

Anyone who has read The Ballad of the White Horse knows not to take anything that Chesterton says too seriously.

What if this is all there is? What if this IS paradise?

My fatalistic view of the world doesn’t allow for a post-mortem heaven, so I really feel like this life is all I’ve got. That puts a pretty heavy load on me because if this is all I’ve got, then I don’t have a bliss waiting for me after death. I’ve got to make life blissful before I die. I don’t even want to wait until retirement. I have to make life blissful now.

There are little things that make life blissful for me every day. Here’s my list:

• Receiving email from friends.
• Sending email to friends.
• Reading interesting weblogs.
• Playing video games both alone and with friends.
• Sleeping.
• Eating good food.
• Seeing pretty things, whether they’re in art, nature or serendipity.

What kinds of things make you happy? Are you doing enough of them? Remember, that paradise is exactly like where you are right now… only much, much better. You have the power to control the much, much better.

Both of these quotations are true to me. I feel like I should never be idle, but I also believe that sometimes I need to “just sits.” It’s a point of contention in my mind with both beliefs constantly duking it out in my mind. Sometimes I believe that I should never be idle so much that the only time I get to rest is when I’m forced to.

Being forced to rest because you physically cannot work is not a pleasant place to be in. In fact, it’s part of the reason that I end up obsessing over seemingly trivial things like video games and cheap novels. I CAN’T work, so end up obsessing in a round-about way to resting.

Which is right?

I like the “just sits” idea, but I have such a hard time just sitting that I don’t know what to do with myself when I do. Meditation doesn’t work for me. Praying is useless when I feel like I’m just praying to myself. Just sitting is harder for me than resolving to never be idle, so I end up working until I can’t work anymore.

What is the answer?

I don’t know. I’ll tell you when I find it, but as it is, I’ve got a lot of things to do and I can’t just go testing that “just sits” thing right now.