” ‘O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless — of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?’ Answer. That you are here — that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” — Walt Whitman, Writer
In art, as in life, we have to make decisions and often times, we have to do so continually. Sometimes, making a decision can be as hard or complicated as the decision itself. And having too many options can lead to more problems than not, reminding us of the importance of humility and the concept of limitations. And yet we are defined by our choices; any and every decision we make is a step in movement — a progression — towards one set of outcomes or another, both good and bad. In other words, everything you do matters (this is both a frightening and liberating thought). The pressure seems to be “always on,” unless of course, we don’t care.
But what if we do care? What then? Well, the outcomes of our choices may not be predictable, but what we can do is ask whether our choice leads us forwards or backwards. When it comes to decision-making, the ball, so to speak, is always on our side of the court.
Here is a list that popped into my mind early one morning. I believe it’s worth deliberating.
“People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.” ― James Baldwin, Writer