Inspiration

Ah the wars they will

be fought again

The holy dove

She will be caught again

bought and sold

and bought again

the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in.

Leonard Cohen

I love these lyrics, which were recently highlighted on one of Robert Genn's newsletters. Art needs time and input to develop within us, much as a soup has to simmer to allow flavors to blend. Everything we do affects our art, be it photography, painting, music, writing, stitching, sketching, cooking, whatever our individual craft. In addition to the hard wiring of our genetics, the imperfections of the day to day instills our distinctive character into our works.

Too many times I've dismissed a photograph or a paragraph because I deem it not worthy to share. "It's cracked," I'm thinking. "No one will like this," I'm positive. "This was a waste of time," I tell myself. However, Mr. Cohen has it so right. There are no perfect offerings, and our perceived imperfections are what allows our creative lights to shine.

Embrace your imperfections and cast them into the light. (...yes, I'm talking to myself)