I’m by no means as “successful” as your examples but I started at university as a biochemistry major only to pivot to film. My entire life to that point was devoted to the sciences. I even got a scholarship from high school for it. I still think of myself as a scientist in my head, though anyone who’s met me in the past 7 years has no idea I was ever interested in science. They just think of me as the guy who makes films. Funny how it works out.
Thank you for sharing. I would be quite curious to read about more people’s experiences. When I was a child I desperately wanted to become a basketball player, even making it as far as youth championship games in the Netherlands. Of course this dream failed to turn into anything on the professional level, but I think the discipline and focus of being a young athlete carried over into my other pursuits. Curious to see other people’s experiences. I will make sure
Surprised and delighted to see my one and only Orhan Pamuk’s sketch notes in your post ❤️ It’s a bit off-topic, but if you haven’t been yet, I’d highly recommend visiting the Museum of Innocence.
As for the theme of your post—don’t some of the most successful scientific inventions follow a similar pattern? You set out to discover one thing, and along the way, something else entirely is uncovered—sometimes even as a side effect. Perhaps the beauty lies in that very unpredictability: the best things often come from what we can't fully control.
I find this discussion very interesting. I grew up with an artistic mother and father, and always gravitated towards drawing and painting because I had a natural gift. I also learned classical piano and folk guitar, and spent some years just focusing on music, even wrote songs.
Over the years (I’m now 71) I found that I never went too deeply into any one thing in particular, because I wanted to try other things. Including writing, and I have reams of journals and letters to show for it.
It seems my creative self had to have an outlet and whatever I landed on at the time became my focus, even if short-lived or for only a season. I get determined to just focus on one thing, like watercolor painting, but I get so easily distracted and off into something else. I judge myself for not becoming extremely proficient at one thing, though I have sold my work here and there. I am unable to throw away my mosaic supplies (like my artist husband wants me to!), because I keep hoping to get back to it someday.
At the end of the day,, my focus is teaching children how to draw and paint at our art school. It is the most satisfying instilling a love of art and an encouragement of their creative gift in these children, and to me, this is a culmination of years of practice and learning about the creative process and how to enjoy and appreciate the joy of seeing, as you so aptly describe in your posts. So thanks for giving me the opportunity of telling my story.
Wendy your story is beautiful. You have given your creative gift to many along your life journey. Thank you for sharing your story. My life has been like that too. Jumping from one thing to another. Now, I am a teacher aide, and working on my creativity on the side. Still praying to one day settle into a few creative areas instead of the multitude - time will tell.
Even if you start out determined to become an artist, life—through its circumstances, environment, finances, or geography—might lead you somewhere else. Yet that original creative drive never fully disappears. It weaves itself into your experiences, transforming you as you adapt to what’s necessary to survive. Through it all, hope remains: the possibility that one day, those artistic ambitions can still find their place in your life.
It would seem that life exists as a weathervane that winds whisk by to point us in different directions depending on external circumstances that offer new directions unchosen and then extraordinarily offered opportunities with time and focus to give them.
I love this! Most adults have been trying to tell me that the career path I choose at seventeen will inevitably stay with me for the rest of my life. I believe—in fact, I know for a fact—that it is far from true. I loved this post!
I’m by no means as “successful” as your examples but I started at university as a biochemistry major only to pivot to film. My entire life to that point was devoted to the sciences. I even got a scholarship from high school for it. I still think of myself as a scientist in my head, though anyone who’s met me in the past 7 years has no idea I was ever interested in science. They just think of me as the guy who makes films. Funny how it works out.
Thank you for sharing. I would be quite curious to read about more people’s experiences. When I was a child I desperately wanted to become a basketball player, even making it as far as youth championship games in the Netherlands. Of course this dream failed to turn into anything on the professional level, but I think the discipline and focus of being a young athlete carried over into my other pursuits. Curious to see other people’s experiences. I will make sure
To read them tomorrow morning.
Surprised and delighted to see my one and only Orhan Pamuk’s sketch notes in your post ❤️ It’s a bit off-topic, but if you haven’t been yet, I’d highly recommend visiting the Museum of Innocence.
As for the theme of your post—don’t some of the most successful scientific inventions follow a similar pattern? You set out to discover one thing, and along the way, something else entirely is uncovered—sometimes even as a side effect. Perhaps the beauty lies in that very unpredictability: the best things often come from what we can't fully control.
With love,
Sinem
I find this discussion very interesting. I grew up with an artistic mother and father, and always gravitated towards drawing and painting because I had a natural gift. I also learned classical piano and folk guitar, and spent some years just focusing on music, even wrote songs.
Over the years (I’m now 71) I found that I never went too deeply into any one thing in particular, because I wanted to try other things. Including writing, and I have reams of journals and letters to show for it.
It seems my creative self had to have an outlet and whatever I landed on at the time became my focus, even if short-lived or for only a season. I get determined to just focus on one thing, like watercolor painting, but I get so easily distracted and off into something else. I judge myself for not becoming extremely proficient at one thing, though I have sold my work here and there. I am unable to throw away my mosaic supplies (like my artist husband wants me to!), because I keep hoping to get back to it someday.
At the end of the day,, my focus is teaching children how to draw and paint at our art school. It is the most satisfying instilling a love of art and an encouragement of their creative gift in these children, and to me, this is a culmination of years of practice and learning about the creative process and how to enjoy and appreciate the joy of seeing, as you so aptly describe in your posts. So thanks for giving me the opportunity of telling my story.
Wendy your story is beautiful. You have given your creative gift to many along your life journey. Thank you for sharing your story. My life has been like that too. Jumping from one thing to another. Now, I am a teacher aide, and working on my creativity on the side. Still praying to one day settle into a few creative areas instead of the multitude - time will tell.
I originally wanted to be an astronomer, but didn’t understand then it was my own roundabout way to be a poet, which is what I became.
Even if you start out determined to become an artist, life—through its circumstances, environment, finances, or geography—might lead you somewhere else. Yet that original creative drive never fully disappears. It weaves itself into your experiences, transforming you as you adapt to what’s necessary to survive. Through it all, hope remains: the possibility that one day, those artistic ambitions can still find their place in your life.
It would seem that life exists as a weathervane that winds whisk by to point us in different directions depending on external circumstances that offer new directions unchosen and then extraordinarily offered opportunities with time and focus to give them.
I love this! Most adults have been trying to tell me that the career path I choose at seventeen will inevitably stay with me for the rest of my life. I believe—in fact, I know for a fact—that it is far from true. I loved this post!
Desire is such.
I like this idea a lot. I’m hoping it gives me something to look forward to too ❤️