Another video to spur me on!

Beautiful Poem

Today I saw stephen silver shared a beautiful poem in FB together with 2 part video
https://vimeo.com/84022735
https://vimeo.com/87448006

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.
Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean. 

Constantine P. Cavafy

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I like the poem so much that I want to share it here so I could remember it in the future.. It came just in time because today I felt rather down due due to some feedback about my art. Made me realize I have been living too long in a glass bubble that I forgot some feedback could be very painful to hear but its like bitter medicine that I have to hear. Anyway, no art post for today because I have to fix it up. :)

Low point

Hullo.

No art today, just want to share some thoughts

Firstly, a powerful video I found in youtube by Paul Klein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcTYhaA72iY

and another by Jim Carrey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V80-gPkpH6M

Recently I have been pretty stressed and confused about my future path as artist.. to the point I wanted to throw in the towel and go back to my hometown and be a farmer (serious ;D ) I have been talking to more and more people, trying to hear about their life stories and getting wisdom from them. Reading on various articles on life, work, and success. 

Just at the lowest point in my life, a friend send me Jim carrey's video. His wise words broaden my horizon and made me goes back to the fundamental on why did I even choose this line... It was great to look back and tried to remember my roots and raison d'etre (one bucket list to cross! finally used this cool word)

As I was observing my lack of fundamental/traditional skills, I found this guy http://www.classicalartonline.com/ and I read up about his adventure @ CA forum. I remember seeing his post a couple years back when I was in school, to stumble upon his work again now and seeing how much he improved was very inspiring! I think as long as I have yet to work as hard as this guy, I cannot give up or whine. 

Pretty much distill it to two goals for myself this year.

1. Find my style/voice (inspired from my idol Terryl Whitlatch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdpnBn9Cv9o and Paul Klein's video)

2. Learn to polish my work.

Finally a motto that keeps me going for weeks now,

Success is a choice, so is failure. 

Cheer up and watch this!

Inspiring speeches by Derek Sivers