“Getting old is not for the weak.” – Dr. Reynoso

“Old age is an adventure if you are lucky enough to make it.” – John Cole

These two statements have been quite insightful. They represent an attitude towards life and living with acceptance in it.

Grit. Are you gritty? Do you have what it takes to continue down the long road we call life? As I’ve aged, my body and mind have underscored the truth of Dr. Reynoso’s words. Yet, aging has also been a blessing, allowing me to reflect on my past and see how far I’ve come. The lessons I’ve learned, what I watched, or read take on new meaning within the context of my current self.

John Cole — my martial arts father — once told me in response to a question about techniques “…it was always there, you just weren’t ready for it.” And that’s the thing about learning and gaining knowledge. In life, you’ll come across a lot of information. Some of it will be useful, and some which wasn’t useful at one point in life will be useful later. It all depends on whether you’re ready to accept it.

What does this have to do with the artist’s life? 

If you’re fortunate enough to reach old age, then what do you do with your time? What do you make? How do you evolve? Are you happy with your art? Are you happy with your progress or your current level? Are you a dedicated craftsman, doing the same thing over and over, or do you aspire to create something new? Life is not dynamic, so why should your art be static?

I’m really a stubborn man. I like being independent and discovering things by myself by tinkering until I get it right. I can also be very lazy, looking for a trick or tip that will get me to an end result faster. As a result, it’s taken me a long time to learn what some other artists have come to learn quite quickly. It’s something that I’ve come to accept in my life and one in which I see reflected in the lives of others. The rate at which we learn something is dependent on our mindset and maturity. 

I originally started writing this post with a different intent; however, I put it down and then forgot its original purpose. As a result, this post has morphed into something a bit more introspective.

It’s become a mirror for myself and perhaps you — if you’re ready to hear or see it. 

The art life is never a straight, flat road. It has lots of twists, turns, ups, and downs.

Speaking of long roads. Next week I’ll be writing to you from Spain. I’m looking forward to the next leg of my long road. I hope you’ll join me as well.