Every day we have a choice… a choice to create, a choice to destroy, a choice to grow, a choice to love, a choice to evolve, a choice to end, a choice weekend… The world gets weirder every day and we sometimes find ourselves lost in the fray, unaware of where to go, what to do, how to be, or what not to be. Sometimes the most simple thing, is to honor where we are in the moment. It takes great courage to be yourself, no matter what you’re going through or where you’re going you can still choose to be your most authentic self. It may be a challenge to be authentically you, but every day you get closer to the truth of who you are. Unequivocally human and imperfect.

Some will tell you it’s a sin to express yourself authentically, but they are only scared of themselves. They have given up on who they are for the fear society has programmed into their psyche, has eaten away at their light and their darkness. For you see, the two are one, and anyone who says otherwise has not traversed the illusions of time wherein the journey back to the whole self begins. When the mind learns to be quiet and the heart learns to shine, the truth of who you are cannot be ignored.

Expression of self is intrinsic to art. Our art is who we are and every time we brave the sea of insecurity to create from the depths of our being, we get closer to our authenticity. It takes great courage to share our unhinged creativity with the world, the world that has convinced us our art is not important, is not ‘good enough’, is secondary to intellect or logic. The world wants us to be cogs in a machine, serving something outside of ourselves at the cost of our scintillating creativity. We’re told only certain art is acceptable or scrutinized for daring to question the limits that have bound us for too long.

How dull would this world be if we were all little clones of the same thing? Thinking the same, talking the same, looking the same? Sounds like literal hell to me! Those who eschew the creative process as a waste of time are grasping onto what they’ve been told by others, in hopes they can fill the hole inside that their self abandonment has created. I get it though… it takes great courage to show yourself to the world. We all fight battles everyday that keep us limited and force us to hide… at least that’s what it feels like.

For those like me who love to create art others would call filth, while simultaneously creating art that most people can get behind, know the delicate balance it can take to breakthrough in a way that you become notorious for never backing down from your creative vision. Countless tears and heartache pave the way, but only one truth remains… you must create. Let nothing stop you! Not the let downs, not the cringe, not the judgment, not the inner critic, who can sometimes be worse than anything outside of you. Push through the muck, because only in the deepest darkest mud can the lotus blossom.