Last May, author Neil Gaiman gave a commencement speech portraying the artist’s life. “Walk toward the mountain,” he said, meaning do those things that will add to your chosen career. Give weight to choices that will help you become a better artist, not merely those which pay bills and siphon time and love.
Really, I could blather a couple more paragraphs about how relevant this idea was to me, but I’m not famous – and nowhere as skilled as Gaiman. So go learn from a master:
See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI
Read it here: http://www.uarts.edu/neil-gaiman-keynote-address
Gaiman said:
> Do the stuff that only you can do.
That’s the BEST advice I’ve ever read. Lots of us spend a lifetime growing toward the point where we are able to do that – growing toward feeling that we can allow ourselves to do that! I reckon it’s the best gift people can give themselves in their own careers – whether they are artists or following some other calling. Thanks for sharing.