So, yesterday and through today we have had a forecast of freezing rain, drizzle and snow. They have been talking about it on the weather forecast for probably a week. Snow here is usual. It is the ice that makes you stop and think. Because of past forecasts not living up to expectations, schools are waiting to see what actually happens instead of what the weather people think may happen since the track may change. Yesterday I did work at a school even though the weather was supposed to get bad. They ended up closing early. Today it is closed. Yesterday, coming home it wasn't too bad (thankfully). I did have to go up some steep hills and didn't have a problem. I also did not slide but made it safely home. I was thinking it would be worse than it was. It depends on the road you take how much the county takes care of them and how much traffic it gets. Today more ice is expected on top of that ice and the area I was going to be at has lots of hills so I think it maybe mostly closed because of safety.
The point of this blah, blah is this - there are always people that will get you worked up over things that were not worth getting worked up over. They may, "as experts", say something is going to be terrible and it really turns out that it is not. You need to not live in fear but learn to be careful and trust your own judgement, take advice and learn from your experience. I could have stayed home yesterday and not taken a job at all because they were saying that ice would coat everything, but I didn't and it was not too bad. Even if it were I would have just had to use my judgement, slowed down, and pay attention to what is in front of me. My inlaws are a prime example. Instead of working on building up a good relationship with me when I married into the family, they started off with a chip on their shoulder because they heard all these stories about how awful daughter-in-laws are. I really could do nothing right as much as I tried because "Mary's daughter-in-law did ... to them." and they expected me to do the same to them.
My husband wanted to be a graphic designer but his dad talked him out of it because "there is no money in Art". This is from a guy that sat once in a sale, didn't sell much and gave up on his art until he was in his 80's again. I have been creating since little and painting since High School. There is always that "That's not Art", "There is no money in art", and the judged shows and contests that you know you were not chosen because 1) they don't know you, 2) they need to put together a cohesive show, 3) and it is still subjective. 4) lacking shock value, etc. Every person you talk to is an "Expert" and if you relied on their sometimes uninformed judgement, you wouldn't do anything.
Sometimes, in life or art, you need to develop your sieve about what comments are valid and what are not. Even if they are valid, how do they fit with what you are doing? Do you value their opinion, are you teachable but not maleable to somebody else's opinion or whim of what you should be doing? There are teachable times that it is to your own benefit to listen, pay attention and learn. There are other times when it is garbage and you need to ignore it or throw it out. This is where intuition and trust come in. Do you trust the advice? Is it valid, does it make sense? Is it that light bulb on moment? Will it work for you? Is it going the same direction you want to go or is it making you go on a track that is unintended or unwanted?
The direction you take in Art can only be taken by you. You want to be original, authentic, fearless and not just one more sheep in the flock.
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