Dedication
Being a poet, being a part of a vast artistic community, I
have met artists of all types. Performers of many genres-dancers, performance
artists, mimes, clowns, contortionists, jugglers, magicians, musicians, disk
jockeys. I have also met many writers, poets, authors, playwrights. The various
fields of these artists are as varied as the artists themselves.
However, there are some things that these artists have in
common-passion for their art form. Perseverance. Perhaps the greatest trait
that all of these artists have in common-dedication. Dedication to learn
something new. Dedication to perform their art to the best of their abilities. Dedication
to rehearse and refine their skills until it is perfect. Dedication to their
craft. To be the best they can be.
I have known authors who can sit at a desk with a computer,
or pen and paper, and write for 8 hours straight. I have known performance
artists that need to exercise for multiple hours a day just to stay in top
physical condition. I have known performers to train and rehearse for hours to
get a performance piece right. I have known artists that constantly go to
classes to learn new things to enhance their craft.
Last week I spoke to a fellow artist. During the course of our conversation, the person said that they were a bit sore.
I asked this person if they had had a strenuous rehearsal that day, or a grueling exercise routine. This person told me that they had gone to a workshop to learn a new skill to perform, to add to their repertoire; but, that was not why they were sore. They were tired and sore because they had walked to the workshop. The location of the workshop was over 90 minutes away from their house. They had walked to the workshop. More than 90 minutes away.
I asked this person if they had had a strenuous rehearsal that day, or a grueling exercise routine. This person told me that they had gone to a workshop to learn a new skill to perform, to add to their repertoire; but, that was not why they were sore. They were tired and sore because they had walked to the workshop. The location of the workshop was over 90 minutes away from their house. They had walked to the workshop. More than 90 minutes away.
Sitting at a computer and writing for 8 hours a day.
Exercising for 4 or more hours a day to stay in top physical fitness. Rehearsing
for hours on end to get everything right. Walking to a workshop 90 minutes away
from home.
That is dedication.
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