Getting what you want out of any creative form takes work. You have to make a lot of crap to get to the good stuff. You invest time. You tussle with the monkey. You doubt yourself.
Why bother?
It’s easy to avoid being great. In fact, the world seems to want you to avoid it. It bombards you with temptations and distractions. It seems not to understand why you are wasting your time. It fills your browser with zillions of example of people who are doing what you should be doing, only better and seemingly without effort.
But being great at what you’re good at has lots of benefits. And they’re not the benefits you imagine. The goal is not numbers: not more $ in the bank, more Twitter followers, more awards on your mantle.
The goal is to be who you are meant to be: a person who is living a life of fulfillment, who is working for something bigger than themselves, who is helping, who matters.
You have gifts to give to the world. But it may just take some sweat to unwrap them.
Danny Gregory 
How well you know me!! Thank you, Danny, for this timely reminder!! 🙂
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Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Thanks for writing this post, Danny. It reminded me of this quote:
“You should understand that these mistakes are unavoidable. The sooner you make your first five thousand mistakes, the sooner you will be able to correct them.” – Kimon Nicolaides, “The Natural Way to Draw”
Also, I was so glad to see “Shut your Monkey” will be available this fall. I immediately pre-ordered your book. I can’t wait.
Cheers!
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Thank you for this post. It came at a particular time when I needed this message.
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I have been doing photography for years and have enjoyed all parts of the process. I do find it counterproductive to see folks chase juried shows, etc because I think that slows growth and subtracts fun.
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A great daily reminder! Thank you.
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Exactly so!!! It’s so easy to get lost along the way…… Thanks for the reminder! 😊
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On target and on time. Thank you Danny.
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Amen. Unwrapping those gifts isn’t always easy, but re-wrapping them to GIVE away makes it all worth it! Great thoughts, Danny.
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You spoke straight to my heart, thank you!
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Very well said..thank you!
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Oh wow, I like your writing.
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Wonderful post Danny – simply wonderful and just in time! ♥♥♥♥♥ 🙂
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Wonderful Danny, simply wonderful! ♥♥♥ 🙂
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Why bother. Why bother? My goal isn’t to be great. Whatever that means. My goal is to learn, do, enjoy, have fun, share, and that’s just great!
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brilliant 🙂
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I say yes to your post and all the comments above 🙂
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Short, sweet and to the point. Thanks for the food for thought. You write well.
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Reblogged this on Jacqui Harris and commented:
I know I have already reblogged one of Danny’s posts but am doing so again really as a reminder to myself of the truth of it. This week has taken me from the real lows of ‘why do I bother- its all rubbish!’ To the hopeful highs where I can’t imagine doing anything else other than expressing this obsession. Danny Greory puts order to all of the emotion in his post.
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I have rewritten the whole post into my diary as a reminder for myself 😊
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I have missed your drawings and paintings. N
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ooh lovely drawing. I’m going to do some of that!
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Inspiring post! I once read that every artist has 1000 bad drawings in them to get out before they start to really create work they’re proud of. Daunting but it makes creating those bad drawings not seem fruitless
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