Loving The Questions
October 8, 2008
[Photo from my book launch last month at Squam Art Workshops :: Taken by Thea Coughlin]
I have only had a few book events so far, but it isn’t taking long to figure out what I love most about these experiences – the questions. I love the questions, the tougher the better. I did four readings at my September 28 show at Peach Tree Gallery and during the last reading someone asked what I thought about the state of the economy. After pausing for a few seconds to gather my thoughts as quickly as possible, I said something like this…
I think we are where we are as a society because there are so few of us who are taking the time to sit still and ask ourselves “What is enough?” There seems to be this mentality that if, at any moment, there is an opportunity to have more of something, we feel compelled, obligated and motivated to take it, no matter what the cost. Everyone has been going after as much as they can, and now that so much of what they had is slipping away, everyone is beginning to panic…because once again, there aren’t enough people sitting down to ask themselves “What is enough?” What do we, as humans, really need to live fulfilled lives, to thrive, to create meaningful relationships, to live in the present? How would the world look different if we all asked ourselves that question every year? Once a month? Every single day?
Just as the freight train to abundance is passing us by, this period of loss and decline will also pass. It will not last, and I find it fascinating that so many decisions are based on a belief that whatever is happening at any given time will never end. People made bad financial decisions because they thought the real estate boom would never end; people are now making bad financial decisions because they think this decline is never going to end. Everything changes, evolves, shifts and grows, but human beings don’t seem to want to embrace that truth…we want things to stay the same when they are good and then sink deeply into the idea that we’ll never escape our fate when things are bad. I sometimes imagine myself floating among the stars, looking down at our tiny little planet and can’t help but wonder where all of this is going to take us, why we choose to make things so complicated and difficult for ourselves.
And then I come back down to earth, and I go back to work.
*******
I would love to have a little Q&A right here on my blog (this fabulous idea came from Ms. Bella Wish herself Stacie de la Rosa). Send me a question in the comments section…about the book, about self-publishing, anything goes. I will post all answers Friday morning. Let’s have a little Ordinary Sparkling Moments blog event right here & now!
Do you feel the magic!? xx
Have you considered politics and running for office? With a response like the one you gave on the economy your common sense wisdom would be a breath of fresh air!
I rarely come out from lurking, but I have to tell you how much I respect the way you answered the question posed to you (rather than adding more fuel to the drama that surrounds us). I am in complete agreement and get so tired of the mud slinging and assigning of blame that goes on when, actually, each should be looking at his/her own life and taking responsibility. Kudos, Swirly!
My question: Do you have film making aspirations beyond your recent first attempt?
i think that is the best answer/thought on this economic situation i’ve heard! Plus, that is such an excellent question for me to ponder, what is enough for me?
Qs for you:
Book – How did you choose self publishing over trying to find a publisher? How did you choose publishing at a traditional press company compared to some of the online options like blurb.com, was it the ability to have control over quality?
Film – I enjoyed the film you posted! Technical question, what software did you use to edit it together? As far as your processes did you storyboard first or was more editing the film together as you went?
Thank you =)
Beautifully, beautifully said!
My question: From where do you find the courage to share the difficult juicy bits of life – either in your lovely book or here at your blog?
Of course, we all go through rough patches, perhaps we write or create to process those emotions but, to me, it feels beyond brave to share your vulnerability and fragility with what can be a harsh, judging and cruel world. I am glad that you do because it is important work that shows me that I am not alone.
You answered the question brilliantly. It is so true that we never stop to ask when is it enough? when do we have enough? we are always looking for something else, something more…for what reason? President Swirly…I like the ring of that
Love you…xoxox
what was your initial PUSH? ie, the initial drive that made you realize you had to get your words and art, into strangers hands and hearts?
What an amazing and beautiful answer you came up with on the spot. You are BRILLIANT!
My question to you, which I was too scared to ask in person would be:
How did you get through the difficult time? The time when you felt you weren’t good enough or the work you were producing wasn’t as fabulous as you wanted? How did you quiet those gremlins in your head? Or better yet…have you even felt any of those things, and if so how did you cope with it?
such a beautiful and graceful answer and right on the spot! i think we all know this deep in our hearts but for some it’s just easier to ignore and acquire more to shut out the whispers coming from our hearts telling us we are enough, we have enough… sometimes it’s hard to believe we have everything we need right within ourselves. so we look elsewhere.
ok, to my question… other commenters have asked a similar question, but i think it’s a really important one. what do you do or tell yourself when your confidence is shaken… i find myself as an artist on a roll of creative ideas and paint and write, then out of nowhere i am berated by doubt. is my work good enough? is all this time spend creating worth anything??? usually i have a few days away from the studio and sort through my many emotions, but then i remember how much i love to create and the joy it brings me to share this with others. i’m wondering if you go through similar ups and downs during your creative process??? and how you deal with it… thank you for this, and i have absolutely loved reading your book. it was such a refreshing read, so raw and truthful. thank you for sharing yourself with us!
I actually do ask myself that question alot. I think that is one of the reasons I now live debt free. We have a MUCH smaller household income now than we did when we got married 7 years ago, yet we are still able to live pretty much debt free. Which wasn’t always the case…especially for me.
The book Your Money or Your Life by Vicki and Joe Dominguez really helped me figuare out what is enough for me when it comes to things.
I do struggle with Creative Adundance.
I want to create something lasting that fullfills me and others.
Some people’s lives seem to flow abundantly when it comes to creative projects.
I am grateful for whatever shows up in my life ~ and I do see everything as part of the process. I totally believe in the big picture and that we are all eternal and connected.
But just right here in this space and time… often what I want doesn’t show up for me quite as I intended.
and I see other people manifesting thier creative dreams and I am happy for them and I also want that for myself.
I would love to know your thoughts on manifesting your creative dreams and your thoughts on the law of attraction?
I think your response was so very true, and most of us would be surprised to learn we already have more than enough, but there are a lot, A LOT, of people in this country right now who are not well off, who don’t and never have had the liberty of making good or bad financial decisions who are struggling because they lost a job that was shipped overseas, couldn’t afford health insurance and got sick, or like well over a million Americans last year who DID have health insurance and had to declare bankruptcy anyway because they just didn’t have enough money to cover things-people who did absolutely everything right and it still wasn’t enough because we have so very many Americans in this country who simply don’t believe that we have a responsibility to take care of each other, to not take up so much more space on this earth than we really need. How often do we make a $100 purchase on a sweater we love or a piece of art when that money could pay a struggling family’s groceries for a month or go towards contributing towards a presidential campaign’s ads to make sure we don’t wind up with a vice-pres who doesn’t even support abortion in the case of rape and increst? The state of this economy is linked more to our failure to be responsible for one another instead of gluttons rather than because the majority of ppl making good or bad financial decisions. The majority of Americans are two to three paychecks away from being homeless and.or unable to pay their bills. For many this isn’t because they made bad $ choices. It is a LUXURY for many Americans to have the liberty of excess dollars.
This was so well written!
‘Enough’ is such an encompassing word.
I just want to know if I am good enough to be what I envision, to hold titles such as good mother, good wife, photographer, artist, faithful friend…
All of those things I long to be that scream from my soul. Is it realistic? Am I good enough to justify the passion? To justify the pursuit?
I am going to “second” Melissa Trentadue’s question…what was your initial push to get yourself out there?
i am so happy you did this!
my question:
did you learn to paint in school, or just by playing and doing, picking up techniques along the way?
xo
BRILLIANT!
I asked all my questions to you in person today
LOVED seeing you at lunch ~!!! thank you as always for being you.
Oh my, Christine, your answer just blows me away. I’ve been so sick of the political blame game when deep down I kept thinking “what about our own personal responsibility? What is happening to us as a society that we feel it’s ok to live so deeply beyond our means?” (And having been there myself these are very tough questions to ask.) I have been going a little crazy trying to find the right words for what I was feeling and then I come here tonight and you just say it. Perfectly. Eloquently. Respectfully. Truthfully. And to come up with such a wise and well considered response on the spot!
And here is my questions: “Rather than fearing failure, have you ever feared success?”
what is your favorite color?
; )
I love you so much for sharing these words!