Don’t Abandon the Work
This week I heard a quote which ended with this line, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” The quote is mostly attributed to the Pirkei Avot, a section of the Mishnah that is mainly a compilation of ethical sayings by rabbis mentioned in the...
What Comes First, Money or Passion?
I’m still ruminating over something my loving husband said the other day: “You’re the most underpaid workaholic I’ve ever seen.” He was teasing me, of course, but my mother always said, “Behind every joke is a bit of truth.” See, I just launched my new book Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life, which...
Can You Ever Outgrow Art?
I went with some friends to an outdoor singalong showing of the movie Grease. I turned twelve the summer that movie came out, and my best friend was obsessed with the show, so it holds a special place in my heart. I do recall as I got older, I started to question the suggestion...
Speaking of Success
Over the past few years, I’ve gotten suckered into watching, listening to, or reading several videos, podcasts, and articles in which the presenter or author promises to dispel common myths about success and tell us how he/she did it differently. And many of them do start to deliver that message. They tell stories about...
Does Your Unfinished Art Serve a Purpose?
I’ve wanted to write a novel about my Mexican grandmother since I was fifteen. I’ve known all along what the first line would be: “When I was nine years old, Poncho Villa rode into town and killed a merchant in the street.” Whenever I think of that line, I get the shivers, remembering the...
Journey On Just One Step More
I’m too tired to write this blog post. It’s been a long week, full of logistical and emotional ups and downs in both my business and personal life. It’s difficult, you know, when you care about your work, but you also care about your family and your community. It’s hard to sometimes feel spread...
There’s a Reason We Call it the Burden of Social Proof
The other day, I heard someone refer to the “burden of social proof,” and I thought the word “burden” was so fitting. See, social proof as a standalone term refers really to herd mentality. It means “the influence the actions and attitudes of the people around us have on our own behavior.” But social...
How Are You, Really?
My husband passed a coworker in the hall the other day and said, “How are you?” The man responded, “Fantastic.” My husband said, “Wow, that’s great.” The man said, “When someone asks you how you are, always say fantastic. No one wants to hear about your problems.” This strikes me as sad. I agree...