The Idiots
Wednesday evening I spent hanging out with The Idiots. Who are actually not idiots in the least, but rather a brilliant, funny, kind, delightful creative pair that had me nodding furiously in agreement with nearly every point of their 300 slide-laden manifesto. Especially the part about the cats. Our household shall remain feline-free. Thanks for the affirmation, Robbi and Matt!
I’ve been working with the duo on this project since the summer, and was thrilled to bring them to campus to talk with undergrads about the virtues of creative impatience. They really are an inspiring couple, and it doesn’t hurt that they know how to tell a great (and funny) story with pearls of wisdom dropped between slides of Robbi doing lines of cocaine off Julia Robert’s bare ass.
The essence of their talk was about the pursuit of creative careers, using their own life stories as a model. I loved their emphasis on following intuition, not knowing guaranteed outcomes or results and being open to and setting yourself up for new (and often unpredictable) experiences. Experimentation and risk were central. Telling an authentic, true story that represents who you are, whether born at the foot of a dormant volcano or owner of a three-legged dog and alleged greyhound super mutt, were critical. And given that I’ve greeted 2013 with a variety of new and unpredictable projects, I needed that reminder that that kind of cavalier, bold, impatient decision to plow ahead, follow your gut, and try to tackle something new and different was not only okay but essential to building and leading a creative life.
Because while I don’t call myself an artist, I am someone that makes. That creates. That does. And I not only want to have creativity built into the work I do, but the life I lead. When I say that I want to live a creative life, I mean that I want to live a life that exists outside the bounds of the structured, prescribed lifestyle that is often held up as the status quo of success in our society. James and I began that pursuit when we abandoned life in LA, I started this blog, we chose to have him be the primary caregiver of our children, and we moved to this little farm on the end of a dirt road in Vermont. And as The Idiots reminded us, that is not an easy path (and that path looks different for nearly everyone). It is hard work, but ultimately rewarding and freeing (particularly if you stop having money be central to driving your life choices and the work that you do). I’d say James and I jumped on that ship when we made the move back east… and we’ve never looked back.
So thank you, Robbi and Matt. I may have needed to hear your talk more than that room of undergrads. Here’s to the unquestionable merits of doggedness! Also, can I be you when I grow up?
