Freedom Ain’t Free
Art–a caricature for our personal, expressive freedom–is a token of engagement that can be both physically and mentally battling. The idiom, “freedom ain’t free,” colloquialism pushed aside, is the most accurate way to describe the creative process. The same brushes we use to paint our own destiny can leave battle scars that need to be weighed against even the most rewarding outputs.
Janis Joplin, whose creative battles were reflected in the harsh, rugged lyrics of her music, died from an overdose of heroin in 1970. The same drugs that destroyed her, she would probably argue, were the same ones that kept her artistically alive during her charismatic 27 years. In her song “Me and Bobby McGee,” she whales during each chorus that “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” From a creative stand point, that’s an envious mindset to obtain. Unfortunately, it took her timely, drug induced death for her to prove what she meant.
There’s a longing for us to do what we like, to feel what we want and to choose when we want to feel it. It’s a paranoid sense of selfishness that too few will admit to having. But, the same negative, habitual behavior that fuels our ambition can be just as powerful if it’s funneled into giving a shit about other people than ourselves. It’s just too easy to get wrapped up into our own ride.
And, I think that can make any creative hustle–a start-up, music, writing, painting–an almost open-ended addiction. We’re fueled by the pendulum of a potential far-sighted success, while at the end of the day, it’s the same reach that can end up weighing us down. The price of freedom is often uncertainty. And, uncertainty is rarely free, even if appears to be so. The traveled road we take to get there is anything but a painless process. Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently.
The path to creative independence–an ultimate goal of many–is strapped with rapid, pulsing heartbeats. Even the most delightful dreams of success are intermittently pulled down by nightmares of personal failure. However, the inspiration is in knowing that few, true success stories exist, even if as dead legends. It’s just too easy, too consuming, and sometimes, too expected, to get wiped out along the ride. My observations are not meant to be discouraging, but a healthy sense of reality can make us all more productive. If it’s not a bumpy road, you’re probably not trying hard enough.
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