Because You Do It

Today I turned on the radio in my car and listened to Catherine Coulter playing her flute from outer space! Can you imagine that?

Another time today I turned on the radio to hear a cello playing with a quartet and was trying to figure out what they were playing. Three separate times I thought I picked up on a tune that made me believe I knew what it was and I was wrong. I never did find out what it was, but it was beautiful. It made me think. What would it sound like if I took the tunes from some of my favorite pieces and combined them? Could I make a viable song out of them? I think I probably could as long as I kept the instruments the same.

I don't know though. I never know how creative I can be until I just get in there and do it. I wonder if that is the secret to creativity. Like anything else it is more a matter of subtracting than adding. Take away a fear of failing. Take away a need to do something specific. Take away all preconceived ideas and take away all control. Just start doing something and see what happens. Who knows?

Dr. Seuss, Picasso, ee cummings, even James Agee, there were times when people didn't like what they did either, but they did it anyway. I never know if what I do is good or not, but if I have fun doing it, if it brings me some sort of satisfaction, or even joy? Then it was worth doing even if it goes from my hand to the trash can.

Performing is something altogether different for me. One little giggle, one little twitter, one small unsolicited criticism and I shatter like a rose that has been dipped in liquid nitrogen. You don't know that unless I tell you, so now I'm telling you. It's the least I can do since I love you -- tell you the truth.

But before I would tell you the truth about your art, I would stop and think. Is what I am about to tell you THE truth, or just my truth? If what I am going to say will really help you, I'll say it anyway, but otherwise, I think sometimes it's better to just nod and smile.

I love what you do -- because you do it.