Thursday Thoughts...

“Make your mistakes, take your chances, look silly, but keep on going. Don’t freeze up.” 

 Thomas Wolfe

I wondered whether this quote was one for the subject of "Life" or for "Art" and I chose art, simply  because I am pondering that today. I imagine it would offer interesting insights for pondering upon Life as well!

It certainly feels apt to much of my making at times, and also feels of great encouragement to keep on keeping on.

To me, it encourages a bit of risk-taking; a bit of heading off into uncertainty; a bit of making without knowing just where you are headed or what may come of it; and I admire this approach. I think for me these sorts of tests and trials and attempts can end up producing some great learning; as well as sometimes great art. It is also true nevertheless, that some shocking mistakes can also appear and some very ugly and poorly resolved work!

But we learn.

He also exhorts us not to freeze up; not to feel at a standstill because something didn't work out as intended, and once again, with this I concur. Freezing gets us absolutely nowhere, unless we can honestly use the static moments to investigate, explore and analyse what we have to do to make something work, out of something that is looking less than impressive. Freezing tho, does generally speak to inaction and inability to move forward, sideways or even backwards.

It can be hard, but it is good to make mistakes, to take chances and possibly even to look silly in the attempt - because we learn.

Heading off in directions which led nowhere; but maybe one day will lead to the right place.