Its 2011 where the whole world is turning to Yoga, spirituality, gurus, scientology, shrinks, art of living and what not to achieve happiness or dregs of it in whatever form it will come to them. I have always maintained that every "issue" in a adult humans life stems from a childhood experience/s, which then later manifests itself into alcoholism, drugs, broken relationships, violence, anger and such in varying degrees.
Which brings me to me! I say with great pride that I had the best childhood, with love in such abundance that I never had to seek it anywhere else but at home. I'm 27 today - have never touched alcohol, drugs or tobacco simply because I never developed a taste or need for it. So when the world around me is on a quest for happiness and validation from any source - I feel blessed to be where I am. Now one would kill to be in my shoes yes? To be eternally happy, content with no cobwebs muddling the mind. I would think so, but given my profession I began questioning this state of mind a few years ago and in the last 3 months it seems to have gathered accelerated pace.
I am a performing artiste.Which puts me in the category of people who are creative - musicians, singers, actors, directors, writers, technicians and artists. My kind thrives on insecurity, substance abuse, sex, breakdowns, depression, heartbreak, being broke and highs to combat the all time lows (that come with every failure in our effort to succeed) at some point. All this forms part of their "life experience" which is content and ammunition that they channel into their art. Which explains some of the most brilliant songs,poems, stories, paintings, films and performances of all time.
Lets talk about me now. I've never had my heart broken, I've never had a breakdown, I've never needed outside assistance apart from the regular doses of motivation from family and friends, I've never had a fling (they've all been committed relationships of a year minimum), I've never had a wild drunk night, I've never been broke and slept on a railway platform.... I've never done anything that could stir in me emotion so raw that it blossoms into a song filled with so much passion and emotion. Yes you could say,"Why not write about happy things, surely you have a bank of that emotion to draw from?" I do. But lets be honest which happy song/performance has ever brought you to tears, touched or moved you in a way that a sad one has!
So today when I have decided to explore my creativity and write I fall short because I realise that Happiness never made me want to write, it made me want to live! While sadness on the other hand always had me put pen to paper to get it out of my system in order to deal with it. But no sadness I experienced was astronomic enough to produce a great piece of art.
Now you tell me do I stay in for dinner tonight or get hammered and paint the town red? (pink...I like that colour better)
Which brings me to me! I say with great pride that I had the best childhood, with love in such abundance that I never had to seek it anywhere else but at home. I'm 27 today - have never touched alcohol, drugs or tobacco simply because I never developed a taste or need for it. So when the world around me is on a quest for happiness and validation from any source - I feel blessed to be where I am. Now one would kill to be in my shoes yes? To be eternally happy, content with no cobwebs muddling the mind. I would think so, but given my profession I began questioning this state of mind a few years ago and in the last 3 months it seems to have gathered accelerated pace.
I am a performing artiste.Which puts me in the category of people who are creative - musicians, singers, actors, directors, writers, technicians and artists. My kind thrives on insecurity, substance abuse, sex, breakdowns, depression, heartbreak, being broke and highs to combat the all time lows (that come with every failure in our effort to succeed) at some point. All this forms part of their "life experience" which is content and ammunition that they channel into their art. Which explains some of the most brilliant songs,poems, stories, paintings, films and performances of all time.
Lets talk about me now. I've never had my heart broken, I've never had a breakdown, I've never needed outside assistance apart from the regular doses of motivation from family and friends, I've never had a fling (they've all been committed relationships of a year minimum), I've never had a wild drunk night, I've never been broke and slept on a railway platform.... I've never done anything that could stir in me emotion so raw that it blossoms into a song filled with so much passion and emotion. Yes you could say,"Why not write about happy things, surely you have a bank of that emotion to draw from?" I do. But lets be honest which happy song/performance has ever brought you to tears, touched or moved you in a way that a sad one has!
So today when I have decided to explore my creativity and write I fall short because I realise that Happiness never made me want to write, it made me want to live! While sadness on the other hand always had me put pen to paper to get it out of my system in order to deal with it. But no sadness I experienced was astronomic enough to produce a great piece of art.
Now you tell me do I stay in for dinner tonight or get hammered and paint the town red? (pink...I like that colour better)
