Summer is here. And like every summer, Central Park is filled with couples and families sauntering along, enjoying ice cream and each other, and the sounds of the newly returned street musicians.
On a recent walk, my partner and I stopped to listen to beloved park regular David Ippolito. As we settled onto the grass, he began musing on the importance of the lost childhood art of skipping...
"Remember when we used to hold hands and skip, how fun that was? What happened to that? Why is it that we never skip anymore? Let's all get back in touch with that magical time... everyone, get up, grab a friend, and skip!
Knees up, arms swinging, hair flying... the sound of my own laughter ringing in my ears... I was amazed at how fun- how freeing it was- to skip and sing along the lakefront trail.
Yet more amazing to me was what a struggle it appeared to be for many people. More than a few seemed embarrassed, conflicted, and even angered by the idea. Walking back to our seats after a few turns, I overheard one man say, "I REFUSE to get up there! Absolutely not! You can't make me!"
What is it that causes such wild resistance? Beyond skipping on a lovely summer day, what is it that so often screams STOP! inside of us, when the invitation to GO! is so inviting, or at the very least, not threatening?
Lady Gaga was recently interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes and I found myself so impressed by both her candor and aliveness. Whatever you may feel about her music, meat suits, and the resultant mayhem, her choice to GO! in her creativity and life is incredibly inspiring.
Unfortunately, many of us get caught up in our thoughts and judgments about what artists are producing, rather than celebrate the fact that art is being generated. We get stopped by our opinions of what is appropriate and 'good' versus what seems 'bad' and altogether crazy, rather than allow ourselves to be impressed and inspired by the joy, self-expression, and creativity of others.
We do this, even though a bit of perspective highlights its folly. Just as one person's garbage is another man's treasure, one day's provocation is in another day passé. How senseless it is then, to allow the popularity of time or taste to dictate the level of openness to and appreciation of any individual's art and artistic process.
Creative people, thankfully, are not altogether hindered by this human tendency, as the birth of art necessarily comes from the pushing- and eventual transcendence- of a myriad currently established boundaries (including those internal). They choose to focus less on what people have to say about them and what they're up to, and more on the thrill and aliveness... the joy and pleasure... they feel in the process of generation.
What is it that has us- whatever we're up to in the world- not take action, not go for the things we want and really care about? Why do we allow judgment, from ourselves and others, to keep us on the sidelines? And why do we play it safe when there's absolutely no proof, and much evidence to the contrary, that doing so will somehow make us happier, more satisfied, and fulfilled?
If you're worried about making a fool of yourself, consider that the real foolishness comes from not appreciating, enjoying, and celebrating your own aliveness, as well as the aliveness of those around you...
