I had a moment while watching the same movie for what must be the 15th time. I never tell the people, artists, creative spirits and adventurers how much I appreciate their work.
I can watch the same movie, read the same book or see the same painting and be moved again and again and the artist has no idea (maybe) that someone, a stranger in the unknown has been affected in a positive way.
I felt like such a jackass that I never say thank you.
So today I decided to start sending out thank you notes to friends, family, artists, actors, writers, musicians and anyone else who might need to know that what they do- following their bliss, has been well received and deeply appreciated. That they have gifted me in some way to help me follow my own, or evolve my quest to live a more epic life.
Sometimes as an artist, it’s terrifying to dangle yourself out there – completely vulnerable to scrutiny, criticism, judgment and sometimes condemnation. It’s a risk. Yet not art that moves us is without risk. Exposing ourselves to this element is exhausting and the rewards are sometimes negligible – but more often than not – it must be done.
As I wrote my first one, I agonized over it. What can I say that will impart how appreciative I am of these people that they take those risks? What can I say that will help them understand I want nothing but to acknowledge that what they do is meaningful? Do I hand write? Type? Where do I send them? Will they be able to be delivered? How anonymous can I make them and hope they will still be delivered and not come off creepy.
God! This required a lot more thought than I imagined. It’s not like I’m dropping a letter to my brother or someone I know. I guess I just have to hope that if they need it – it will find it’s way to them somehow.
Ultimately, each letter will have to be different depending on what the artist has done for me as a creative, and what I feel like I can say while maintaining anonymity so they have no sense of obligation.
This is what I came up with for the first one.
“Thank you.
Thank you for moving me. It’s an elegant universe we live in that you can follow your bliss and the result reaches a stranger – and I am truly moved by it. Thank you.
I can’t imagine what trouble you endure to do what you love; what difficulties and complications, but your work made me smile, hold my breath and feel. Sometimes it’s good just to be reminded that I am possessed of the human condition with its complicated spectrum of emotional hues.
Thank you for doing what you do.
I sincerely hope you find as much fulfillment in your work as the world receives in your giving it.”
Too cheesy? Anywhoo, from now on I will try to send out thank you letters when I am touched by a performance, movie, book, piece of music and so on. Something that I hope will help tip to the side of joy for an artist when they need something to look at and remember on those inevitable days when they are sitting at that crossroad wondering why they put themselves through the hells they do – just to have a voice.
A simple thank you can go a long way so I’ll have to figure out a good system, because I have a lot of letters to write – and none of them will be the same.
If you could write a thank you to an artist – any artist – and know they would get it, who would you thank? Who would you send a note to just to say thank you for making a difference in a moment of your life through art?
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