All of us are different; we all have different body types, different interests, different talents, different beliefs, different politics. That’s what diversity is — we’re all meant to be different. At the same time we’re all in this together, connected in ways largely unseen and unforeseen not unlike the wings of a butterfly influencing a typhoon hundreds of miles away. Therefore, how we hold ourselves accountable keeps us focused and in harmony with the universe. There is an order to things and its our choice whether we want to align ourselves with this order or take part in its obstruction or disorder. Sometimes, we need to get ourselves back on track while at other times, it’s best to just get out of the way (i.e. of doing too much and overstepping our limitations.) This is the Taoist concept known as Wu Wei (non-action or not forcing).
The solution to living seems complicated but need not be. We only need to find that “one thing” — our calling — to set us straight. If we do find it and carry it out with as much effort, integrity and respect as we can, all else will pretty much fall into place. To resist our calling is to contribute to the disorder of things and muck up the universe. This leads to illness and hurt to ourselves and society, and not just by the loss of our unrealized potential.
That calling, that “one thing” is our craft, our art. And I’m not referring only to the visual arts or even necessarily the creative vocations. It means every kind of craft and career be it science, economics, construction, nursing or farming. The list goes on. All have a role to play. No one craft is superior to another. None. Any significant difference among individuals and action is in the dignity by which the job is done; the respect, love and care that an individual puts into the work. That’s it. It’s that focus on attentiveness and process again. How and why we do things versus what we do. It’s about quality and not quickness, stewardship rather than ownership. It’s a free market system of process above profit while allowing for dutiful and honourable individual expression. History has proven time and again that societal systems that either puts money above people (unregulated capitalism) or suppresses individual freedom (communist totalitarianism) will both negate our humanity. Remember, work is a good thing; we’re designed to do it. But there’s much more value to work than the profits of one’s labour. Happiness lies elsewhere, beyond the accumulation of material wealth and our own self-obsession or even any specific ideology. Instead, it lies in being, creating and connecting.
Here, on this blog the focus is on the visual arts because that’s my primary interest. But the many various aspects of human civilization should be of interest to everyone. Artists should learn about the basic tenets of medicine or business just as doctors and investments managers should enlarge their exposure to the arts. This doesn’t mean that we should become scatterbrained (far from it) but that we should have a healthy interest and respect for other facets of society. Until we become more aware and more empathetic, we’ll continue to misunderstand each other, leaning instead towards division, blame and hatred. Opening our eyes so that we can experience society through our own specified craft strengthens our art which both reflects our humanity and helps to explain it — the “one thing” encompassing all things.
How do we know what that “one thing” is then? That’s for each of us to find out for ourselves. Sometimes — and oftentimes — we must first explore who we’re not before we can find out who we are. This is the journey. And it’s a marvelous one filled with excitement, fear, joy and suffering that’s all pretty much unpredictable. I don’t think we can have it any other way. All things, both good and bad, come attached which means we’ll need to play this game expectation-free and completely vulnerable. But that’s alright, because with vulnerability comes the courage to overcome difficulty and the discovery of real meaning. It’s ok to be scared.
And, if we already know what we’re supposed to do and ain’t doing it, then we better stop screwing around and get with it.