💭 What is a good life and what is the artist? 🎨 That’s the thought bubble today.

What is a good life and what is the artist? That’s the thought bubble today. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, mainly because I’m having the time of my life right now. And yet, by society’s rules and judgements, perhaps I should be packing up the tools and going away quietly? But how can I, when I feel like I’m only just reaching my prime? When I was growing up, I knew I wanted to live the life of an artist. In 7th form, I was the only person in my music class and one of only two in my art class. We even had our own prefab for our work, which was way cool. I knew what I wanted to do. I just didn’t know how I could possibly make a living doing it. Art wasn’t something that was supposed to pay the bills. So when I left university with a BA, I had no idea what came next. There was a serious lack of jobs, very much like now, and not a lot of hope. I ended up working in my dad’s panel shop because I couldn’t get a job in the arts and I wanted to play music. Since then, I’ve worked a LOT of part-time jobs to get where I am today. But through all of it, I never stopped being creative. I’ve also never expected anyone else to look after me. For one thing, it was my choice to choose this fool’s errand of a career. And secondly, I never wanted to be beholden to anyone. So yeah, I’ve paid my dues over the years, and I’m proud of my output to date. For a long time, though, I wondered whether I was a “real” artist because I wasn’t getting arts funding. It’s a confusing thing, this art and money business. But I think I’ve finally made peace with it. What I’ve figured out is this: That thing you dreamed about doing when you were young, the thing you imagined would make your life feel like your life, can happen. Sometimes it just takes a bloody long time. And sometimes nobody notices when you get there. So you have to back yourself. You have to learn to mark your own essays. That has been hard won for me. But I think I’m living the best life I can with the cards I’ve been dealt. And maybe that’s the point. So what makes a good life? For me, it’s being your authentic self. Doing what you love. Giving more than you take. Doing the right thing, even when it isn’t the easiest thing. Removing the word hate from your vocabulary. And refusing to quietly disappear just because some think your best years should be behind you. Mine certainly aren’t. What about you? What do you think makes a “good life”?