I spoke about the need for all of us to push ourselves out of our comfort zones–to try to express something of what we feel, think or do, through the arts. I feel, that if we are trying to encourage our children to draw, to make music, to paint, that we too, should be putting ourselves in the world in this way.
And why don’t we? Well, it is hard. It is hard to be a beginner, to try to draw, to sing…we are so invested in the notion that only certain of us are talented. We think that only those who are “the best” at something benefit from doing it. The rest of us are content to be observers. Also, even if we think we might want to capture a beautiful sunset in paints, we are afraid to appear foolish. We are afraid that we will be laughed at, fall on our faces.
And yet, trying to express our selves in these unfamiliar ways can make our lives so much richer, and possibly more joyous. Even if we do fall on our face, even if we don’t produce an award winning drawing, if we continue to try, despite the initial failures and feelings of foolishness, then there are rewards. I think, that, when one attempts to capture a feeling or a thought in paint, or music or words, that the very attempt, brings us closer to the source of those feelings. The attempt to capture something gives us much more appreciation for the beauty of that thing. And as so often happens, our attempt to capture the essence of a thing, or situation, falls far short of our conception. And this too, is a good thing. It forces us to confront our human-ness. No one can continue thinking of themselves as superior when one continually fails to put forth one’s vision. The artistic process keeps us humble.
--Pamela Tanner Boll, director of Who Does She Think She Is?
I will be scared, but do it anyway.