Making art and exploring the edge of what my body can do have always been part of my DNA. Over the years, I’ve found that both of these require similar things: enormous discipline and a unique form of endurance. There are good days. There are sub-par days. There are days when I’m tired and out of ideas and motivation. And of course, there are amazing days when everything clicks and I feel on top of the world.
As with any pursuit worth doing, it begins with simply showing up for yourself.
Doing the thing.
Not researching the thing.
Not asking more people for advice about the thing.
Not hiding by reading more books or listening to more podcasts about the thing.
Simply doing the thing.
So here’s to the swimmers and artists (that’s YOU!) out there. We all know the hardest part is putting on our suit, bracing ourselves against the cold, walking along the cold pool deck, and getting IN the pool. Once we’re in, we’re good. The hardest part for artists is getting started and facing the fear that it ‘might not work’ and just making the thing anyways.
Just keep swimming. And making art. One lap, one brushstroke, one sentence.
But first, you have to jump in.