An Open Letter to All Artists (and Artists in Hiding)

This revelation was inspired after a conversation with an amazing gal-pal in BC, a few other equally amazing people here in Ottawa and the highly underrated movie Galaxy Quest (Never give up, never surrender!)

Dear Artist (and Artist in Hiding – You Know Who You Are),
This letter is for those times when doubt overwhelms you and corners you in your own home; this letter is for those times when all you can do is question yourself; this letter is for those times when the sheets of your bed become the safest tunnel you could ever crawl into; this letter is for those times when you are so broke that a meaningless desk job seems like your only salvation; this letter is for those times when you want to hop in your car and just keep driving until you reach a destination where nobody knows you; this letter is for those times when you just want to keep running until no one is chasing you anymore; this letter is for those times when the ocean is calling out to you, when you just want swim as far out and dive as far down as you possibly can until the water has completely enveloped you and you don’t feel anything anymore; this letter is for you.

How do I know you sometimes feel this way?

I feel it too. And when I’ve felt that way, you were there for me in person, on the phone, via email, via text, or in spirit. Even if we’ve never met before, you were there for me. You wouldn’t let me give up.

I’m here to say thank you and to let you know that I won’t give up on you.

What you do, what we do, is important. It is a gift. It brings joy, awareness, and insight. It is filled with love, it uplifts the soul, and it makes people feel something. We were blessed to have such a calling.

The more miserable and empty you feel today, the bigger the task, the dream, the goal you have, nay need, to accomplish. If you get to work on it, even just a little, trust me, you will feel better. You don’t need to ask me what you should be getting to work on; you know the answer is inside of you. Just take a moment to listen.

It isn’t easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. You will need to work hard and you will, quite often, need to work alone. There will be no rest and no vacations. When you take a “break,” you will do so knowing that you will have to work twice as hard the next time around. There will also be people around you who will try to stop you. They may offer pretty rewards and temptations, or they may try to outright crush you and make you feel small. We will not let them, because we have a mission. We have a purpose in this life.

You might be getting angry at me for saying this. That’s alright, I can take it.
You might delete this and try to forget about it. That’s alright, but your passion will not stop haunting you until you do something about it.
You might wonder who the hell I am to be telling you what to do. I am telling you things you already know because I am more than just your friend. We are all connected, you and I, through our art. We are family. I am your teacher, your student, your mother, your father, your son, your daughter, your brother, your sister, your partner in arms in this War of Art and I’m not willing to leave you to die on the battlefield. Not on my watch.

You are beautiful, you are worthy, and you are strong (stronger than even you might suspect). You are a superstar in your own right. You can do it. I believe in you because I know you also believe in me.

So please pick up that pen, that brush, that guitar; move your feet; sing that song; learn, grow, be inspired; do what you want to do and do it now; jump and let the whole world see you fall. In the end, we will all be better off for it.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Love,
Nancy

PS. Please pass this on to any artist in need (which is all of them) including myself. Today I am strong, but tomorrow I may become the person I am talking about.