GC Myers- Larger Than Life
I’ve often write about change, lately in the form of fighting against my own selfishness through acts of generosity, somehow hoping that this reinvention of the self makes me a better person and affects change in others. I spent a few hours yesterday with John and Ron, a couple currently from Iowa and Illinois, each side of the Mississippi, who ad come to the West End Gallery specifically to see my work. I had a great time getting to know them a little better and learning more about their lives. Listening to them over lunch, I found that their own lives were stories of reinvention, of finding new identities.
It really struck a chord with me, making me appreciate how creative and adaptive we are as people. Sometimes it’s a practical matter, out of the need to meet the demands of our basic needs, and sometimes it is a matter of changing behaviors that we realize are negatively affecting our lives. Either way, the result is a new self of some sort, hopefully one that brings us more happiness and satisfaction with ourselves.
It reminded me of a post from several years ago, in 2009, where I wrote a short bit about reinvention, using Loretta Lynn as my subject.
Thanks to John and Ron for the inspiration for this morning. It was great meeting you and I hope the rest your trip goes smoothly.
Here’s what I wrote back in 2009:
Reinvention.
What I was is not what I am and what I am is not necessarily what I will be.
We’re fortunate to have such an opportunity, to be able to change and evolve over our lives. To be able to show the world other and new facets in our prisms. The only question is why do some people take this opportunity to reinvent themselves and other do not?
I thought about this the other day when I was in the studio, prepping work for my next show. I was listening to Van Lear Rose, an album from a couple of years back from Loretta Lynn, the Queen of Country Music. It’s a great album with Jack White of White Stripes fame producing and playing. The songs have Loretta’s unmistakeable signature voice and songwriting but have a new feel. A little more edge and a little less twang. A new side to Loretta. She took the opportunity, when it presented itself, to step forward and change.
But what about those who don’t? Why don’t they continue to evolve? Are they simply satisfied with where they are? In music this is pretty common, guys playing the Oldies circuit, performing the same songs that they made popular when they were 18 years old. Perhaps the opportunity to change never showed up. Maybe they felt safe in staying in their tried and true routine of rehashing the past. No risk there.
Who know? I surely don’t but I do know that this chance to change our skin, chameleon-like, is an opportunity that the truly creative should not simply push aside because for them to remain static is death. Take the risk.
Here’s a little Loretta from Van Lear Rose:
Redtree Times 