Out of the Shadows

“No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath:
I’ll tell you how the sun rose
A ribbon at a time… “

-Don Miller (Through Painted Deserts)

I get sucked into my art, the photographs, the words on a page. There’s adrenaline, things are flowing. When I am in that groove of creating, it’s the only place I want to be. It’s as if I enter this world all it’s own, with visions in my head pouring out into the medium.

But I’ve also come to realize I can’t let life spin by, stuck in my own head. I want to capture a life that’s been lived.

I have to force myself out. I have to force myself into my car, onto those bike pedals, onto my own two feet. The moments of stepping back and stepping in. 

As an introvert, it’s easy for me to choose to read a book, write some stories, paint a picture. It’s harder to call up that friend and drive across town. It’s hard for me to enter a crowded setting. I don’t like the idea of small talk. I become uncomfortable, self conscious. 

But when I force myself out into the world, when I’m in the company of other people, I feel alive. I feed off their stories. I find new inspiration. I’m reacquainted with the tangible. But the difficult part is making that step. Leaving behind the work, leaving behind the control, and living in the messy world. Stepping into that crowd, despite my dread of being put on the spot or not having the words to say or stammering and mixing up my words like I so often do. Stepping out of the shadows. 

“Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road” by Donald Miller

*Disclosure: Some affiliate links are included; which means I may earn a small commission should you click through and make a purchase. I appreciate your support!