9/15/2008

Shine Your Light

“No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people’s eyes, to reveal the marvels of the world.” -- Paulo Coelho, from The Witch of Portobello
This is why I've decided to delve back into the art world in a big way. Because I cannot keep my light hidden or obscured any longer. What good does that do? When I squash my light, it festers and creates problems. It doesn't want to be kept away from the world. If I instead allow it that delicious purple light to shine, it inspires others to shine their own special lights, and that creates more and more light!

I remember hearing Maya Angelou speak five years ago in Denver. She sang "This Little Light of Mine" and it was incredibly inspiring. I wanted to stand up, right there, and shout and sing about all the things I wanted to do. I wanted everyone to know! And why was I so inspired? Because there she was, letting her light shine!

What keeps our lights hidden? Criticism, jealousy, people who tell us "art doesn't make money," or "be realistic," or "only truly talented people can do what you want to do." I've decided that's all hooey. I know for sure that if we allow our inner light to shine and we use that light and put it into whatever work we want to do, we can create more than we can even imagine.

1 comment:

kelly rae said...

you have no idea how relevant this is to me right now :)