When Status Quo Attacks

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This morning, just as I was intaking my first sips of coffee, Status Quo attacked. Usually by 7:40 am, I have made it to ‘the other side’- first, by way of meditation. Second, by way of the pen via stream of mind drawing. Today’s drawing had not begun before the non-negotiable gospel had surrounded me with four walls. Once you are boxed in, the only thing you can do is get a feel for where the edges are, and stay inside- until a subtle window opens.

Fortunately for me, a window opened, and I climbed out rather effortlessly. But the encounter was enough to shake me up this morning. Enough to press me up against the these keystrokes now; this is the only avenue I have to ensure my stance outside the status quo. This is, after all, what the self-proclaimed artist must do. To be aligned with the status quo is to cease to exist. Every now and then, it is healthy to submit one’s ego to tight quarters, smoothing him out to be indistinguishable from the others. But that is the exception, not the rule.

Can you see how vulnerable we are? All of us are on the brink of non-existence. Especially ‘the artist’. But you are an artist, too. According to Seth Godin, “An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo.” He also says, “Art is what we do when we are truly alive”. Apparently, this point has resonated with me. I like feeling alive. That’s why I’ve written to you this morning. It feels nice to turn this morning’s experience upside down and re-make it. The status quo can trap you for a moment - but it cannot clutch you forever. And once you’ve crossed to the other side, it is yours to mold however you like. In this case, it is the ground- a surface for the artist to walk.