The Burden
This image bears testament to the burden of betterment.
It is distinctly human to try to âbetterâ ourselves. It is a learned characteristic. From a young age, our parents tell us we have to âbeâ something. Our schools force us into career decision making at 14 years old, and unless youâre lucky enough to know then your lifeâs destiny, you are left thrashing in the dust – eventually plumping for doctor, lawyer or (in my case) trout farmer.
Itâs no wonder so many of us, confused, reach for the guitar or the pen.
In our artistic lives we fall into the same trap, still searching blindly for success and for some meaning. We set unreachable goals for ourselves and, when we know in our hearts that there are really only two possible realities to this essentially meaningless journey – misery and money* – why do we still love the thrill of the chase?
*misery
Concealed in the strata of society, at every socio-economic level, exists hundreds of thousands of unheard musicians and songwriters, just like this fellow. By night, playing club gigs and practicing in their bedrooms and, by day, swabbing hallways and tickling the trout. (no euphemism intended) Now, this guy might be an undiscovered vocalist of sublime quality, but I fear prime-time TV âtalentâ shows have taught us the brevity of those odds.
Anyway, thatâs irrelevant, my cynicism or judgement is unnecessary here as I will never know if he is a great performer or not. I just hope is that he is happy and that he is being the best janitor he can be. By the way, if he is a great janitor, he should enter my new Saturday night show âMop Idolâ. Youâre welcome, Cowell.
© Copyright, H Paul Goodwin 2015
Response to our Inspiration Call on July 6, 2015
www.facebook.com/Creativetalentsunleashed
Photo Credit: © Monalyn Gracia/Corbis/Royalty Free Photos
Reblogged this on blackfacegeneral and commented:
Something I scribbled for the Creative Talents Unleashed Facebook page.
Very kind of them to repost it.
Thank you.