The Great Expectations

Do you have expectations for your life? Your Career?   

You might be slightly lying if you said no.

Like many artists, we all have some vision that we hope for and plan for.  However, life is more about the journey and not the destination.  I know when you hit rock bottom sometimes easier said than done.  Sometimes those moments where we do not meet the expectation that we set for ourselves or our family/society set for us are the moments where we reach the most clarity in our lives.  We reach deep within those moments of not attaining those expectations and are forced to fully examine what we truly want out of this life we are given.  Sometimes in the pain, there comes true beauty which I came to realize.  

For many artists, we lead such crazy lives.  Figuratively and literally.  We live job to job...we take a job in South Dakota leaving behind family and friends, we take that day job that we dread in order to eat, we receive five million "no's"  in hopes to have that one yes!  Sound familiar.  For myself, I have experienced all those things and came to to one revelation these past few weeks.  What is that you ask?

I have not been truly living life and especially living in the moment since I had a certain "expectation" of what I planned my life to be.  So I have stepped away from those "expectations" both as a person and an artist in order to live and fuel both me as a person and the artist.  I am enjoying that ice cream and beer, or that conversation with that dear friend, or attending that family wedding (since I have missed too many because the show must go on) in order to feel more balanced as person,  That in turn will make me both a more balanced artist and educator.

I have learned that is alright to let myself to let go of those "expectations" and that is part of the process.  Once I did that I will truly learn and grow and the work will come.

What is one thing that you have put off because of money, time, or other pressures?  

Now...allow yourself to do it! You deserve it!  

As always live your life with integrity, truth, and courage and life's expectations will fall into place.

McGee