KEEP GOING

It’s Friday. That used to mean something different around here.

I read Austin Kleon’s latest book “Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad” in one sitting early this am. It was perfect, and inspiring and just what I needed.

Though intended to remind artist’s who’ve run out of steam how normal, powerful and necessary those ebbs and flows of their creative process are, I couldn’t help but feel like it’s messages and suggestions on how to keep going when the going gets rough creatively were more universally relevant right now.

This is page 201. May it help you keep going.

“Whenever life gets overwhelming, go back to chapter 1 of this book and think about your days. Try your best to fill them in ways that get you a little closer to where you want to be. Go easy on yourself and take your time. Worry less about getting things done. Worry more about things worth doing. Worry less about being a great artist. Worry more about being a good human being who makes art. Worry less about making a mark. Worry more about leaving things better than you found them.

Keep working. Keep playing. Keep drawing. Keep looking. Keep listening. Keep thinking. Keep dreaming. Keep singing. Keep dancing. Keep painting. Keep sculpting. Keep designing. Keep composing. Keep acting. Keep cooking. Keep searching. Keep walking. Keep exploring. Keep giving. Keep living. Keep paying attention. 

Keep doing you are verbs, whatever they may be.

Keep going.”