By the time we move into our second act, we experience a great deal of loss, from our hair to our best friends, our second act seems like one long season of goodbyes. We lose mobility, we lose motivation and we certainly have lost our beach-ready body. How then can art help mitigate what, on a rainy afternoon, seems like a long season of perpetual goodbyes?
Art can help us explore what we gained as we inhabit our second act.
Gain Emotional Flexibility
Art is tricky and ill behaved. It doesn’t respond the way you want – which is the point. A compelling art practice will make you stronger, more flexible and yes, happier. A good day is one where I’ve wrestled with art, either my primary art or the fun crazy art that inspires the primary efforts. Once fortified by real art, it’s easier to overlook trivial annoyances. The day is smoother. An encounter with Phyllis is less annoying.
Inspires Adventure
Passion and art can propel you not only out of bed but out of the house. Art and/or passion often inspires adventure. If you can afford it – go see that art exhibit, visit that battle site, book tickets to the theater. One cold rainy evening, my husband dragged himself to a Historical Society lecture on the ditches in our county. Ditches. The author, Dom Lindars, had just released his latest doorstop of a book The Ditches of Nevada City.
Rainy night.
Historical Society.
Ditches.
Small town.
Standing room only.
You never know.
Go to the weird event. Say hello to someone, maybe just the person sitting next to you, and see where a conversation takes you. As much effort as it takes, it’s always worth the time explore new things, even if you just visit that new kombucha place. Maybe they need art on their walls.
Increase in Energy
Making art is energizing. With a project that needs your continued attention and contribution, the whole day will vibrate on a different note. Once you’ve accomplished your artistic goals, that energy will brighten the rest of the day.
Extra Hope
Nothing kills hope like the news. Yes, we want to have at least a working knowledge of current events, especially since medical professionals are obsessed with our ability to repeat those events while strapped to a gurney in the emergency room. You can’t pick up allergy medication without the pharmacist demanding you name the current president. You can say their name and also that you didn’t vote for them. Use your Monty Python voice.
If your new goal is to feel better about humanity, turn off the news and join a community group, or attend a community celebration or function. Share your art with either the larger community or a small bespoke community of artists. People want to help the world, people want to love. People care. Big events are terrible because terrible sells. Individuals are often kind and supportive. Seek out individuals, look up from the phone and talk to the Phyllis standing behind you in the grocery line.
New Community
Does it take a village to make art? Yup. We will discuss art communities more in the next pages, but suffice to say, working and playing with collaborators, supporters, a band, all contribute to our well-being and expand our support network. You don’t need me to repeat the whole loneliness is worse for your health than smoking finding (Loneliness = 15 cigarettes a day) because ironically, if you smoke, you are automatically a member of a community. Your people are easily found lurking on the edge of the parking lot, signaling their position by the glowing tips of their cigarettes bringing you in like a landing plane. (15 cigarettes a day – camaraderie outside the auditorium = net 5 cigarettes a day).
To be fair and balanced. What will you lose when you pursue a more artistic life?
Ability to Release Certitude
We used to be certain. We probably enjoyed a twenty-five year era when we were certain about everything. Yet now we can no longer depend that all the pieces of our lives will stay in our preferred shape and form. Things break, the center stops holding. Art can both recognize this, comment on it, and help us get through it. Want to freeze time instead? Take the photo, write the essay, create the poem, write up an opera about all that has disappeared. This is the job of big art, and now it’s your job. You want to preserve something? Do it through your art, and you will be certain of one thing – the art will not only comment and preserve what you loved best, it will outlast you and carry on. I’m certain.
Patti High in her book, Creative is a Verb, suggests that we stop trying to explain everything Stop trying to capture everything.
Just live it. Fling yourself in. Get lost more often.
Make every single day a finger painting where getting messy is at least half the point.
Art is exciting and fun and will distract you from that twitch in your knee.
For more on how Art will enhance your Second Act. Visit the Web site.
