Observations about Disappointment and Learning to Fly

My little boy is a perfectionist.  Maybe we're all born with some of this...some more than other though, I think.  You can either feed the ugly beast or tame it along the way.  But there it is.  Spencer's only 7.  But his beast actually tries to stop him from even trying new things.  New experiences, new sports, new everything. 

It comes down to the fear of being wrong or being seen as wrong, or silly, different or not good enough.  Fear can be crippling in any field.  As an artist, it is very hard to put your work out there, for fear than it won't be liked.  It is my daily struggle, vacillating between confidence and fear, between THIS CAME OUT PRETTY DAMN GOOD and OH NO, I COULDN'T POSSIBLY ENTER THAT CHALLENGE!

This week, I got a "Thank you for submitting your artwork. I appreciate your creative efforts and taking the time to share your work with us.  Unfortunately, we are unable to fit this particular submission into our editorial schedule."  (I thought it was damn good, by the way, and frankly would have fit very nicely into that particular call.)  AND I got a letter from a local coffeehouse that hangs some of my work.  It read "Thank you for allowing us to host your beautiful artwork.  Enclosed is payment for "Brave."  Someone, off the street, loved and bought a piece that I made with my heart and hands.

I showed both of these to Spencer.  Told him that life is walking a path of all kinds of experiences, including fear, disappointment and yes, pure joy.  That if you don't spread your wings and TRY to fly, you'll never know to what heights you can soar.

Also, this little baby robin was born in our front tree.  I named her Liberty since it is the week of Independence Day.  (I don't really know if it's a girl, but let's go with it.)  How dainty and fragile she is.  Much like our egos.  Soon, she is going to have to spread those wings and try to fly too. Happy Independence Day. ;)