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What is Your Art?

If I asked you the question in the broadest sense “What is your art?” How would you answer?

As background, here is context from Seth Godin, an incredible writer and terrific thinker.

As for me, I am deeply struggling with answering this question. As Godin points out in the link above:

“Art is a human act, a generous contribution, something that might not work, and it is intended to change the recipient for the better, often causing a connection to happen.”

So while the answer for you might be painting or playing the piano, for me the answer isn’t “creative art” but something … else. Godin’s post ends by identifying the most difficult part, which is where I am:

“The most difficult part might be in choosing whether you want to make art at all, and committing to what it requires of you.”
I asked this question to several friends and on Reddit. The answers were fascinating:
  • Optimism and joy
  • Helping others gain knowledge that makes them better at what they do
  • Being a storyteller
  • Teaching teenagers
  • Creator of knowledge
  • Seeing the good in people
  • Be kinder than necessary

I was blown away that people had ready answers and that they were willing to share. I am spending a lot of time considering my own answer but haven’t hit on it yet. I refuse to believe that I’m not willing to commit to my art, I much prefer to think that I just haven’t found it yet.

What is your art?