Creatives, Live out Loud

A day late and bit scatterbrained, but it's here. Also, what do you think of the new look? I like the simplicity. Anywho.

{Photo Creds: VintageRosePhotography}

Ever wonder what your purpose in this world is? Ever wonder why you photograph everything, and why you write poems all the time, or why you spend so much time putting together that epic fantasy that might (maybe, perhaps...) get published someday. After so many prayers, tears, hopes, sleepless nights of just thinking about what the future holds and after all this time, you finally have over 1k followers on Instagram and BOOM. You think you're making a name for yourself. FINALLY, THANK GOD.

Right?

No?

~

What makes you so special? You, the artist in this world wanting nothing more than to make a difference. What makes you so special...

First, realize artists are just about anybody who puts their imagination and creative soul into something. It isn't all about drawing and painting and getting into an art gallery. Being an artist is about writing, dancing, music, photography, and so much more. It's about putting your heart and soul into something that you are so very passionate about. And I see it all the time. I see so many young people get crushed under the world's expectations. I see so many young writers just quit because they are told they will never make it. I see so many kids stop drawing because they are bullied at school in art class.

And no, this post isn't about bullying, but you see it too, don't you? You see the damage society does to the fragile, artistic souls of all these talented young people. And you wonder if art is really worth it. Or what the purpose even is. I watch as so many teenagers get discouraged from getting an "art" degree in college. The people around them tell them to be a lawyer, or doctor, or someone important, because artists don't make a lot of money.

Artists don't do what they do to make money. Sure, if you're good enough in society's eyes you will make more money than someone who is still small and trying to make a name for themselves. But writers write to make a difference, not to make money. Poets write to create emotion. Painters and drawers do the same thing. Photographers photograph the memories that people want to hold onto forever. What we do, we do for others. Even if you have selfish motivations behind creating a certain novel, or painting, you still do it for someone else in the end.

So, then. What makes you so special?

You, an artist, have put your heart and soul into something absolutely beautiful. And no one can take away that passion. People will try and crush you in this world and will try to tell you it isn't worth it. Don't listen to them. Even the small scribbles could change the world.

"If you want to change the world, pick up your pen." -Martin Luther.

Or pick up your camera, paint brush, pencil, whatever! Whatever it is that you express with, pick it up. You will change the world someday. It will take sometime. But when you accomplish what you set out to do, you will be living out loud. This world is shaped by art, and don't let people tell you otherwise.

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud." -Unknown.

So what if you don't have millions of read on Wattpad? So what if you don't have a million followers on Instagram? So what if you get rejection letters from publishers a couple times before being accepted? Everyone starts small, and as artists, we will always be the minority. But that's okay. Almost every artist realizes at one point in time that their art isn't for themselves, but to be shared. And if you impact only ten lives instead of ten million, then you have made a small difference. Not everyone can be like J.K. Rowling. But it's okay to dream of such success someday.

The point is to live out loud. Don't let others discourage your art. You are a creative. You are special and you make a difference. "The earth without 'art' would just be 'eh'." And it's true.

No one ever promised it would be easy. No one ever promised it would be smooth sailing. Goodness, you try writing 100,000 word manuscript and then rewriting and rewriting until finally you convince yourself it is ready to be sent in, just to get rejection letter after rejection letter after re-  you get the point.

"Art isn't easy. That's why it's called painting."

Think about it. Writers paint with words, photographers paint with their camera, painters paint with paintbrushes or pencils, musicians paint with their music, and dancers use that music to paint a picture with their body.

Just keep moving forward. Live out loud.

What about you? What is your favorite part about art? What is the hardest part? What kind of art do you do?