Hero to Zero

A few days ago, I was watching a documentary on a group of creatives. These are the totally-out-there-really-living-it-everyday-seriously-what's-wrong-with-you kind of creatives. They made really weird art.

This one guy was explaining this piece of abstract art he'd created, or rather that he had to create. And he explained it. I kid you not, he ran his finger along the lines and stated the thoughts they represented.

I wanted so badly to be cool enough to get it. I wanted to understand his mind in that moment.

I've never felt so lame. I went from fabo to flabo in exactly the amount of time it took for that guy to explain his painting.

To be confronted with extreme creativity like that can be a slap in the face. Or maybe it's giftedness or athleticism or beauty, but seeing in extreme quantities anything you desire to be can be overwhelming.

But I think it's a good thing.

I think it reminds us that we want to be great, even though we convince ourselves we don't. It pushes us to try when we'd rather just tell ourselves that it's lame, or it won't work out, or we can't be that good at something anyway.

I don't know. Take a class. Write something. Get organized. Wear makeup.

Just try.