One of my dear friends took a sabbatical from the day job and has spent the last couple of years writing full time. She emailed today and lamented how she regreted "frittering away" her time chasing her many interests instead of seeing something through to fruition. Now in this economy, she's worried that she is going to have to return to work soon and her precious opportunity will have been wasted.

In the last few days, I've had virtually the same concerns voiced to me three times. Could be the full moon. Whatever the reason, I'm so gratefull for this newest wakeup as over the course of my life, people have readily judged me and my determination to pursue my creative interests. Many years ago, I was giving an inspirational talk to a group of university women on the subject of personal creativity. The woman, a biologist, who introduced me called me an enthusiastic dilattante. I later had to look the word up as I had never actually had it applied to me. Hmmm, a very French way of calling someone a jack of all trades and master of none. I was quite surprised as I felt very masterful on many levels as I pursued my interests. I get the spark or bonfire of interest in something, research and experience it and, as Obi Wan Kanobi says, I "Move along, move along." But it ain't easy being green or perceived as a dabbler, yet I persevere. "See," I say, "I can stick to something."

So it is from that perspective that I wrote to my friend the following:

My dear ________, despite what society and parents teach, I've found hanging in to fruition is oft overrated ;>)) Some things (experiences) are meant for exploration and don't necessarily need to be seen through to the end, IMO, or let's say in my case. Highly creative people really have more ideas flowing in than they can deal with. Everything seems interesting and promising, and the truth is they are all that and more--it depends on what we allow! From the creative growth perspective, anyway. From the nose-to-the-grindstone perspective of most people, such creative journeys seem wastefully dilettante and plain wrong. That's a flawed judgment, I believe. But one does have make a living, we know. What we don't seem to get is that we truly can have all worth having and doing.

For several months I got DVDs from Netflix on the Impressionists. Wowowow, those people lived for their art. And suffered greatly--not enough income for food, housing, paints. But some became very famous and rich, too--Monet, Picasso--while they were alive. I found their single minded vision inspiring yet terrifying, because they were determined to be revolutionary, but thought they had to suffer for their not working at a regular job or "wasting' their time pursuing their creative interests that ran contrary to those of society. The artists who did finally "make it" were equally single minded about their art, but they were "savvy", if you will, about how to balance their lives around that vision. And that's the trick. The true creative journey is never either/or. The journey is AND.

Try not to regret how you've spent your time. What a marvelous gift you've given yourself and you will continue to benefit from your sabbatical. Enjoy the ride. Keep your eye on where you want to go despite what others believe or the economy seems to suggest. And as you rejoice in your freedom to explore and create, your vision just may grow in the most miraculous ways that will astound and fulfill your every need. Believe it! I do.
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