A Dancer Dances

A blank canvas presents infinite possibilities. The image painted on that canvas could be anything. The only one who should determine the final image on that canvas is the artist.

But what if, while an artist is working on that canvas, a passerby decides to pick up a brush and add to that painting? What if two passersby do that? What if a thousand passers-by do that?

Or what if the artist is working on the canvas and a tutor offers suggestions on the work of art? Maybe the tutor disagrees with the orange sky or the purple woman or the elongated fingers on the subject in the painting?

Outside influences may quickly change the painting. Are those changes for the better? Are they more a reflection of the tutor or the passerby? Are those changes forcing the artist to conform to someone else's view of what the painting should look like?

When we are born we appear to the world to be a blank canvas. Those around us look at the newborn child that we began as and try to imagine what we will become. We are humans. And, as humans, we have the unique capacity in all of creation to become, well, unique.

In contrast, the instinctive programming, if you will, of the animal and plant kingdoms predetermines their outcome and their behaviors. Each generation of hummingbird resembles and behaves like the previous generation. Only with human encounters have animal (and plant) behaviors been altered.

But humans are beautifully different. We each have the potential to be anything. Truly the thing we become comes from within ourselves. And the fact that we all become something different makes us unique as a species as well as unique as individuals. Or, at least, potentially.

"Potentially" because of those outside influences mentioned earlier. A good teacher, whether that teacher is a parent, a friend, a relative, or, a school teacher, will observe her student and perceive the innate talents of the student and then guide the student to become that person he or she was born to become.

A not-so-good teacher will impose their own ideas of the direction the student should grow. And, when a not-so-good teacher does this with good intentions it becomes very confusing to the student. After all, a loving parent only wants what is best for their child.

If you are the student, look inside and be honest with yourself. If your passion is moving you to become an artist, a dancer, an accountant, a protector, a singer, a baker, or anything, including becoming a parent or a teacher, then be true to that passion. Be persistent in nurturing those talents and those inner drives (yes, there are often several).

If someone else paints on your canvas and you don't like what they have done? Paint over it.

Robin and I recorded a song many years ago that is titled, "You Can Be Whatever You Want." When we posted that song, on the fledgling internet back then, we had a few negative comments that criticized our view chastising us for "giving children false hope" with the argument that "we can NOT be whatever we want."

Well, from the world point of view, that argument is only true if BEING something means earning a living (a paycheck) from it. But BEING something is not the same as making a career of something. For those lucky enough to make a career out of their passion it is true but for much of humanity we are who we are regardless of the world around us. Human Beings are who we are simply by BEING HUMAN.

And THAT is the point of all of this. Be who you are. Let others be who they are. Do what you have to do to survive, yes, but don't abandon your passions.

If you are an actor, find a stage and act. If you are a builder, find some lumber and build. If you are a musician, let your songs be heard. If you are an inventor, keep tinkering at the tools before you.

We are happiest when we are who we are.

That is why an artist paints.
That is why we climb mountains.
That is why we tell stories.
That is why a writer writes.

That is why a dancer dances.