I Could Have Told You - Part I

"I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” - Van Gogh

“A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke.” ― Vincent Van Gogh

I was recently told by an acquaintance that people like me frequently do not receive recognition until after they die. This was part of a conversation we were having about finding funding for one of my projects. “So what are you saying?” I asked. “I should give up and go back to writing copy for health insurance companies?”

“No, no,” he hastened to assure me. “It’s a great idea. You shouldn’t give up. I was just trying to help you set realistic expectations.”

I pondered that for a moment. The project I had in mind would be more than a full-time job. There was simply no way I would have the physical or emotional stamina to take on another job to pay the bills. “So how would you suggest I move forward?” I asked. “Realistically speaking that is.”

The silence that followed was full of irritation. He ended the call shortly thereafter, and I haven’t heard from him since. I got off the phone feeling as if I’d done a face plant against an old and familiar wall. It hurt.

This song, by Don McClean, captures both Van Gogh’s pain and our own discomfort knowing what he endured. Despite being seen as what he called, “…the lowest of the low,” Van Gogh continued to paint, saying, “I put my heart and soul into my work, and I have lost my mind in the process.”

All I can say is, “hindsight is a bitch.” Let’s have a listen.

So, although we are not here to dissect the many reasons those who think and create outside the box are undervalued and underpaid, I WOULD like to find and pass along some songs that capture those experiences AND offer some comfort.

Please share any songs and/or stories that reflect your own experiences. And while you are reflecting and pondering how to respond to this post, listen to this wonderfully imaginative song by Ruth B based on the story of Peter Pan entitled, “Lost Boy.”

Don’t forget to believe in yourself and carry some pixie dust wherever you go.

Let the discussion begin.

Jena

Copyright 2021 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.