Quasar, ©Jaimee Todd
Full disclosure: I’m a total Star Wars geek and if I’m not mistaken (and I know I’m not), Yoda once told Luke Skywalker, as he was training to become a Jedi in the Empire Strike Back: “Do or do not; there is no try.”
I’ve decided that quote is going to be my theme for 2012.
I usually don’t get bent out of shape in making New Year’s resolutions because I’m a results-driven person and I’m constantly making to-do lists to complete. For the most part, I’m pretty good at going after them and get things done but there are times when I have hesitated and made excuses. Aside from the itty-bitty ones, like not going to the gym when I say I’m going to, I’m really talking about the big ones that would further my long-term goals in regards to my art. With each passing year, I realize how finite time is and how important it is that I look back on my life without regret and wishing I had done things that I had always dreamed of doing.
This really hit home for me over the holidays when I went to visit family and friends. Going back home to Michigan is always a sobering experience for me. It’s a state that has been clobbered by the recession and the resulting malaise permeates the air. You can see how this feeling has spread to its inhabitants and it always makes me feel grateful to live in New York. While I was home, I was having a conversation with someone close to me and that person was complaining, for what seemed to be the hundredth time, that they were in a rut. As usual, I offered suggestions and ideas for this person to get the ball rolling and as usual, this person found an excuse for why these things could not be done. It was depressing.
I’ve heard this many times and I really believe this: if you’re not happy with your situation and you want to change it, you have thee options.(1) Change your situation (2)Make peace with it and do nothing (3) Or change your approach or attitude towards it. Above all, what’s most important is to STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. Make this your year of action and stop moping about what you haven’t done and start doing. Sometimes I think we complain and beat ourselves up out loud because we somehow want someone to validate our inaction and give us a way out so we don’t have to feel about not doing anything. For me, it’s just frustrating to hear people complain about the same thing without doing anything about it. Unless you make peace with your situation as it is, you have to create your own momentum shift. Sometimes that requires help and guidance but the point is, get moving.
I was inspired by a couple of people this year who have really gone after their dreams by jumping in with both feet. One of them is my older sister, Ani Todd-Smith. For years, she had dreamed of pursuing an art career and sharing with it with the world. After many years of doing what was “practical”, she finally decided to put her passion first and started drawing, blogging and getting her out to the people by participating in several art fairs. I’m so proud of her because she went for it, even during those times when she didn’t know what she was doing or where this path would lead her. The best part of it all is that she’s a lot happier for it and her momentum shift is continually expanding.
As for me, my momentum shift involves really getting my out in person. I’m tired of trying to strictly go the online route and have decided to embrace my photography and share it with the world, but in person. I’ve received a lot of enthusiastic praise for my street photography and the pleasure I get from taking pictures is reassuring. I’ve already talked to a cafe owner in Queens about bringing my stuff in and I have my eye on a couple of other places that I will be visiting next week for potential shows. I will be creating deadlines for myself because, for me, that’s how I get things done.
So what about you? Are you going to try or just do?
