Yes, to be passionate is key to better living. To give it everything I have inside me, every time, every moment. It starts with me showing up… the starting point for any artist.
In the French movie La Vie d’Artiste on the SQ flight home from Singapore, I watched how three lives intersected: a dubbing actress who longed to be seen rather than only heard, a teacher who would rather be a writer, and a young woman who tried everything to make it as a singer. All three shared one ultimate dream: to become an artist. How hard they worked on their craft, and how little success they had in the morose scenario of the screen writer! None of the three got what they dreamed of, as fate pushed them relentlessly to find satisfaction within the boundaries of their day-to-day existence.
What an annoying outcome, I thought. Isn’t there such a thing as overcoming gravity? Think of the enormous energy spent to lift a space shuttle from its launch pad. I have yet to see a shuttle that didn’t take off with so much energy invested. Isn’t it the same with an artist’s dream? The start seems the hardest in many ways. Progress comes with struggle, by keeping movement, and by warding off complacency. With a proper investment, there is no need for negativity.
Then there are the times when success comes into my life unannounced, as a welcome surprise. When Korean acupuncturist Dr. Park poked my armpit with a needle ten days ago, I could move my arm without pain for the first time in many days. He smiled, remarking “I just relaxed your muscle a bit.” I had paid him a visit on the advice of a close colleague, after suffering a shoulder injury which suddenly took a turn for the worse. The results of the treatment were instant and very gratifying. And it didn't take more energy than to drive there and lie still as the needles entered my energy meridians. What a lift off! If only my writing would come that easily. Anyway, I shelved my plan to have an MRI scan while visiting Singapore for work.
Meanwhile, my energy investment in getting up early has paid off. I have joined Steve Pavlina’s band of early risers and victors of the daily "battle of the bed" at 5 am. Witnessing the dawn, and spending quality time with myself at the start of the day has become a treat that I no longer want to miss. It is intensely satisfying to “show up” at dawn and rediscover my passion for life every morning. All it takes me is some energy and to adopt “not thinking” for 10 minutes, and then I can lift off into daily space.
And when I heard from a friend about someone who manages to get up every day at 3 am (and sleeps at 8:30 pm). ... Nah, that’s not for me. My passion starts at 10 past 5 am.
Photograph: Dawn in Singapore (much later than 5 am).
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