Epiphany

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. ~Charles Kingsley

When I have conceptualized a new idea for a painting, sketched out the composition, and plotted my course – this is the most fulfilling time for me as an artist. Even more than a sale, or a positive response to a finished painting. This feeling of enthusiasm and clarity of purpose is palatable. It’s why I’ll sometimes linger on finishing a painting when I don’t yet have a new one worked up. And it’s probably why so many artists are manic-depressive. The high that comes with enthusiasm, juxtaposed against the feeling of lack of enthused, are far apart indeed. And it also explains why the people who do what excites them the most are the happiest. They are in a constant state of enthusiasm. So… let’s make a deal. Find something that makes you come alive. Whatever it is. Don’t think about the end result. Or about how you can profit from it. Is happiness not profit enough? Happiness is why we do everything we do; because we think it will make us happier. Try it for an afternoon, or a week, or a lifetime, and see what happens. I’ll do the same and we’ll compare notes on the other side.