Learn, internalize, and embody creative lessons.
I've been thinking about how knowing stuff and putting it into practice are two different things—three, if you count the step between them needed to internalize info before it becomes ingrained skill.
I'd been hunched over a table in a coffee shop a couple of weeks ago when my friend Jenny popped into view. She'd literally kind of crouched down and had to shuffle side-to-side a bit for me to notice. I'm still not sure how long she'd spent trying to get my attention—she brushed it off when I'd asked. I can get... um, well... pretty sucked in to what I'm working on.
Whoops.
After standing up to say hi, I'd glanced back down at the table where I'd managed to sprawl my belongings across its entire surface. I'd done so neatly—notebooks stacked on books, pen and highlighter tucked in next to them, phone and water bottle set off to the side—but still, it'd felt excessive. I hastily cleared some room for Jenny and we got to chatting.
Maybe it was the art hanging on the wall, but next thing I knew we were talking about Austin Kleon.
He re-popularized a well-trodden concept in one of his bestselling books, Steal Like An Artist. I've been a fan of Austin's for a while now, but Jenny wasn't familiar. She's a very talented photographer and a writer, and she'd seemed interested, so I'd ordered her a copy after we'd parted ways.
When I gave it to her this week, it inspired me to re-read it myself.
It's not a very long book, but I love it. I started it before bed the other night and finished it the next morning with my coffee. Since it was originally published in 2012, I had to chuckle when I thought of myself back then. These concepts had been a roadmap for me—fresh and exciting. They offered stuff I could actually work on to try and reshape my life.
Almost 15 years later, I admit the book fell by the wayside more than once. What'd been a plan to reach a pipedream got smacked with more than one dose of real life. But during my re-read this week, after I'd turned the final page, I felt such a jolt of pride. Because in the book, Austin outlines 10 ways to unlock your creativity... and I do all of them daily, without really having to think about it. It didn't happen overnight, but I've fully embodied those lessons.
Now, the plan is just to keep going.
Funnily enough, that's the title of another one of Austin's books.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
99/365
For what it's worth, I don't get anything from promoting Austin or his work. I just think it's good. Maybe you'll find him to be a helpful resource like I have. Check out Steal Like An Artist or visit Austin's website at austinkleon.com.
onward.
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