How not to be sad and bitter in Arts and Culture?

The question right?

I asked this on Facebook recently and got lots of varying responses. From, 'Girl I need to know myself.' to more very poignant attitudes and values to adopt to stay on course.  We won't talk about what led me to ask the question (alyuh doh have all day) but in pondering on it, I have come to a few conclusions.

1. Don't confuse 'the' mission with 'a' strategy.

For instance, you believe in dance and dance culture. You support it whenever you can. But what is it about dance that you really believe in? The fact that it brings people together? The fact that it is a mind/body activity? In this sense dance is the tool not the goal itself. But its easy to lose yourself in HOW your personal mission appears as opposed to WHAT your personal mission is. That also leaves room for change and growth. The things you thought could get you there can change but your mission should be your mission regardless (of the transient circumstances). Which leads me to:

2. Everybody want to get to heaven but nobody want to die (quote from my mother).

Dedication to your mission will take work and sacrifice. You can't skip that part. But if you have clear focus on your vision it should be enjoyable or at least palatable. If you don't, might be time to reevaluate, or evaluate your chosen strategy to get there. Maybe you've diverged so far from your original motivation that it can no longer drive you. BUT...

3. Not all parts of your work will look like the mission.

Some parts of your job will seem extraneous, annoying, unrelated because they don't resemble your passion. You're interested in youth development but here you are doing a certification in entrepreneurship and you hate it. But at some point you said to yourself that those skills will get you to your goal and keep you in the mission-delivery zone. You just have to remember that.

4. WHERE ARE YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES and PEERS?

They are busy. We live in New York. Everyone is busy. Everyone is focused on their goals. They said they would support your cause. They haven't. Or not in the way you would like them to? Do your goals depend on them? What's in it for them? Is it that you need them in order to carry out your mission? Is it that you are using your mission as a means of maintaining your relationships? Is there a version of your mission that is not dependent solely on those around you? If so see number 1.

5. Teach people how to support you.

Yea, yea, yea --- but they should know. They don't. But it doesn't mean they don't see or support the work you are doing. Maybe for you its people checking in on you. Maybe you need folks to show up. Maybe you need a listening ear after rehearsal. You might need to let them know that. Don't worry I'm still learning this one.

6. Build re-inspiration into your arts-cycle.

I had to read this book, 'The Gift' for grad school. A lot of this book annoyed me (re. point number 3), but it says, 'If, when we work, we can look once a day upon the face of mystery, then our labor satisfies...When the gift passes out sight and then returns, we are enlivened.' So we get far a way from the effect our work has on our world until somehow it is brought back to us. Maybe its through people who have seen or felt transformed by it or through the work of someone else. Maybe it is through detaching totally from it for a while. I think the hard part is making room for those activities. Again these don't look like work but they are. 


That's all I have for now. If more comes to me maybe you will see another post.


Yours in Arts and Feelings,



Candace Thompson-Zachery 

Explore all the things I do at:
candacedancefitness.com
dancecaribbeancollective.com
2017.newtraditionsfestival.com

Disclaimer - These words are my own and are written as a pensive, analytical, artist who is prone to do (too) many things and currently works several day jobs that are partially unrelated to her mission but is lucky to be living the life she is.