Moving along the same lines as Joel Miller -- this one got me, "I don’t love that guy, but he’s still around, making mischief. And I’m trying to figure out what to do with him". My mischief and your mischief, your guy and my gal may not be the same, although in ways they are. I absolutely connect on the fact that she still lingers - no matter how much humbleness has been birthed from my brokenness. This is good, Jeff. I'm learning lot's here!
It can be hard to prioritise writing without putting something else or someone else on the back burner. I have certainly done that. Sometimes I am proud of my achievement and sometimes I can see the cost. I suspect that this is one of life's eternal conundrums!
"The Pursuit of Happiness..." In other words wealth, property, the true dealings of the Constitution, and momentary bliss. A roller coaster ride creates that ephemeral state that produces the endorphins that crave more. A drug. Religion? Bread as Hemingway mused? Money? Sex? Power?
Anything can be when abused and twisted from its natural state in our minds and desires for More.
I am obviously not a writer, but a painter. I am music based as I was to paint the late Barbara Morrisons Jazz and Blues Museum she was collecting grant money for as a teacher at UCLA.
I have had many ideas to start such a thing, primarily and the incredible so called Watts Towers. Nuestro Pueblo.
But also as Matisse and Romare Bearden did to create books, poets and painters especially are bonded. Sadly writers and musicians are often as programmed by the visual as the general public, being great at one art form does not guarantee understanding another. Art is divided between the didactic and evocative. Gauguin saw this and his own writings are a mess of brilliance and a seeming primitive as one must tear away societies veneer of accumulated diversions to get to the foundations of life and being Human.
I'm reading a book right now by Gertrude Stein about Picasso. It's fascinating and maddening, as you might expect and allegedly one of her more readable works. At any rate, in that book, she says that Picasso didn't hang out with artists. He spent most of his time with writers, because he could relate to them better. His strokes were his words, she claimed, and what he really cared about was ideas, not forms and shapes. So what better place to look to for inspiration than from writers? I liked that idea that one type of creator borrows from another type.
Have you read “Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life” by Luke Burgis? We so easily model our desires on what others assure us will bring us happiness and/or “success” without realizing that our desires are not our own. You’ve touched on a deep truth in looking at children lost in the now. I often ponder the many layers of meaning behind Jesus’ words: “you must become as children...”
Thoughtful piece, Jeff. Thanks! I think it was Mark Twain who said, "I reckon most people are about as happy as they make up their mind to be." I'll share another quote I have posted in my studio - "I've finally built the life I don't need a vacation from."
“This is the part of me who jockeys for position, who works his clever observations into dinner conversation in hopes of being recognize. The ego that hides behind the kind and thoughtful gestures to others but is still cleverly calculating how it all comes back around to him. I don’t love that guy, but he’s still around, making mischief. And I’m trying to figure out what to do with him.”
I love this. We all have this but not everyone writes it. Kudos for that. You’re right: The people who change the world are the weirdos/freaks/highly driven ambitious folks. I think of Steve Jobs. The important artists and writers, too, are in this category. Very few succeed who are followers.
I try to write as honestly as I can on my stack as well.
It really is. I've learned that lesson more than once from you. You're a deep well, Joel Miller, and I am happy to have access to those depths on occasion.
Wow, SO well said! And I’m reassured to hear someone say the word “virtue” - something so important that isn’t talked about a lot and sometimes isn’t easy to see or find but is so important.
Moving along the same lines as Joel Miller -- this one got me, "I don’t love that guy, but he’s still around, making mischief. And I’m trying to figure out what to do with him". My mischief and your mischief, your guy and my gal may not be the same, although in ways they are. I absolutely connect on the fact that she still lingers - no matter how much humbleness has been birthed from my brokenness. This is good, Jeff. I'm learning lot's here!
Thank you, Cassie!
So good, Jeff. That thing about children, and what Linda said. So many layers. Jesus knows.
Thanks for sharing, Rex. Checked out your substack and love the idea of micromovements and mini revolutions.
It can be hard to prioritise writing without putting something else or someone else on the back burner. I have certainly done that. Sometimes I am proud of my achievement and sometimes I can see the cost. I suspect that this is one of life's eternal conundrums!
Indeed.
"The Pursuit of Happiness..." In other words wealth, property, the true dealings of the Constitution, and momentary bliss. A roller coaster ride creates that ephemeral state that produces the endorphins that crave more. A drug. Religion? Bread as Hemingway mused? Money? Sex? Power?
Anything can be when abused and twisted from its natural state in our minds and desires for More.
I am obviously not a writer, but a painter. I am music based as I was to paint the late Barbara Morrisons Jazz and Blues Museum she was collecting grant money for as a teacher at UCLA.
I have had many ideas to start such a thing, primarily and the incredible so called Watts Towers. Nuestro Pueblo.
But also as Matisse and Romare Bearden did to create books, poets and painters especially are bonded. Sadly writers and musicians are often as programmed by the visual as the general public, being great at one art form does not guarantee understanding another. Art is divided between the didactic and evocative. Gauguin saw this and his own writings are a mess of brilliance and a seeming primitive as one must tear away societies veneer of accumulated diversions to get to the foundations of life and being Human.
Sorry, as I said, not a writer.
If anyone interested, hit me up.
fraselleart.com
I'm reading a book right now by Gertrude Stein about Picasso. It's fascinating and maddening, as you might expect and allegedly one of her more readable works. At any rate, in that book, she says that Picasso didn't hang out with artists. He spent most of his time with writers, because he could relate to them better. His strokes were his words, she claimed, and what he really cared about was ideas, not forms and shapes. So what better place to look to for inspiration than from writers? I liked that idea that one type of creator borrows from another type.
Have you read “Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life” by Luke Burgis? We so easily model our desires on what others assure us will bring us happiness and/or “success” without realizing that our desires are not our own. You’ve touched on a deep truth in looking at children lost in the now. I often ponder the many layers of meaning behind Jesus’ words: “you must become as children...”
👍
Nope!
Thoughtful piece, Jeff. Thanks! I think it was Mark Twain who said, "I reckon most people are about as happy as they make up their mind to be." I'll share another quote I have posted in my studio - "I've finally built the life I don't need a vacation from."
Nice! :)
👏👏
Very true, honest assessment.
“This is the part of me who jockeys for position, who works his clever observations into dinner conversation in hopes of being recognize. The ego that hides behind the kind and thoughtful gestures to others but is still cleverly calculating how it all comes back around to him. I don’t love that guy, but he’s still around, making mischief. And I’m trying to figure out what to do with him.”
I love this. We all have this but not everyone writes it. Kudos for that. You’re right: The people who change the world are the weirdos/freaks/highly driven ambitious folks. I think of Steve Jobs. The important artists and writers, too, are in this category. Very few succeed who are followers.
I try to write as honestly as I can on my stack as well.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Nice to have you here, Michael.
“I am happiest when I am not thinking about the nature of happiness.”
The thing is different than the thing about the thing.
It really is. I've learned that lesson more than once from you. You're a deep well, Joel Miller, and I am happy to have access to those depths on occasion.
Here I am learning it again from you.
Wow, SO well said! And I’m reassured to hear someone say the word “virtue” - something so important that isn’t talked about a lot and sometimes isn’t easy to see or find but is so important.
Love that word. An old idea definitely worthy of resurrection. :)
Thank you, John. :)
These are excellent pints indeed.
Love a good pint. :)