Sunday, January 26, 2014

...Awards Shows

Let's talk awards.

Tonight, the Grammy's are on. Millions of folks have tuned in--I believe more to watch the performing acts than the awards themselves--and are probably having a good time. I am not one of their viewers.

In my years, I have, either individually or as part of a team, been nominated for twenty-two industry awards for either writing, photography, or graphic design. Never won a single one. Got a few honorable mentions, but that's the "kissing your sister" award. Didn't hurt my feelings, though.

At the time it bothered me that I didn't win. At least a little. Since then, I've come to a very strong feeling about awards: That's not why I do it. As a creative person, the reason that I do what I do is to create something with pride. I want to do something that makes me happy with my work. It's nice to receive the acknowledgement of your peers, but if you aren't pleasing yourself in the first place, the awards don't matter. So, not winning an award--or not being nominated--isn't that big a deal. Being true to myself, which is something that I didn't do for far too long, is much more important.

So, go be yourself. Go do that thing that you thought you couldn't. And do it for the right reason: Because it is something that is right for you. Don't worry about what other people think. If they don't like it, that's fine, it wasn't done for them anyway. Speak from the heart. Work with your soul. Lay it all on the line. It's not like your going to get another chance to live this life over again, after all.

And, if you really do find that inner soul and can express it in a way that is true to yourself, you might just find that there are others out there who will resonate with it, anyway.

What more reward does anyone truly need?

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