The Imagination of Fall

I love this time of year! The air is starting to just hint at crispness and the "season" is beginning!

Around midAugust I begin to slow down in order to re-assess. September brings on the season of the year and the fears shift.

Granted, my life is forever changed by this car accident, and I haven't been in the studio since late June. I will consider it a summer off!

What about you?

Is it time to re-assess, revamp, rediscover what you want, where you are, what the next steps look like?

Do NOT look back. Where you are and where you are going is key. If you took the summer off, so what? We need those too. Time off is as necessary as time put in. (quit laughing at me those of you who know me too well)!!!

Seriously though, looking back is only necessary to see how far you have come. The tiniest steps or changes or movements are as crucial to an artist's craft and development as the big jumps.

Ironically, I have seen young artists burn out, get so discouraged, and even leave the business because they tried to do too much too quickly. They never stop taking classes of all kinds, are running to every audition, hold down a survival job, and never have time to let it truly ooze in and become real. The steps are frantic and end up running them into a void rather than giving them freedom and assurance.

So as I am asking myself these questions I pose them to you:

Who do you want to be this fall as you enter the season?

What is necessary? What is crucial? What is important?

Where is your heart pulling you?

Where is your head pulling you?

Can you listen to both and negotiate?

Are you trying to wear too many hats? Why?

Can you find and will you find time and energy in your schedule to be with YOU?

How many classes can you afford to do? How many classes can you afford not to do? What are they? Who are they with? Why?

Do not take the attitude of all or nothing. Let the true priorities lead you. We cannot afford to everything at once. Sometimes we have to wait. Sometimes we have to negotiate the amount of time we can devote. Sometimes when we find a teacher we KNOW is right for us at the time but the fee is more expensive we just don't study as often. Do not say all or nothing and settle for something cheaper on all accounts!

As an artist, are you making time for those things that bring you joy? Do you even know what those are outside your discipline?

What do you want to focus on? Why? Are you ready? Do you have that small unique team around

you that speaks truth to you even when you don't want to hear it?

This time of year can be both a chance to slow down and take stock and then gear up and move into the next of fall.

I have already started. Truths, desires, needs, wants, necessities, clarifiers. All are crucial in discovering where you are, why you are, and what that next step will be: as an artist first, and then as an artist pursuing a career.

Enjoy the possibilities! If sandwiched between two semi trucks hasn't stopped me, nothing can stop you, but your lack of imagination!