The old rules are crumbling and nobody knows what the new rules are.
So make up your own rules.
Someone asked me recently how to do something she thought was going to be difficult, in this case recording an audio book, and I suggested she pretend that she was someone who could do it. Not pretend to do it, but pretend she was someone who could. She put up a notice to this effect on the studio wall, and she said it helped.
So be wise, because the world needs more wisdom, and if you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise, and then just behave like they would.
And now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art.
Neil Gaiman
134th Commencement of the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, 2012.
If you are looking for some inspiration, head over and read the whole address. Neil Gaiman has put a lot of wisdom into his small speech. For anyone working creatively, this is a fabolous read, not just for a Monday morning. So, grab your coffee and kick start this week!
Dream big.
What I Learned in Writing Class
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That’s for sure – might as well as the whole world makes no sense anymore. I sometimes would like to hop off and no, don’t ask me to go on a rocket ship with Jeff Bezos either. 🙂
Urgh, that might be a different kind of mistake. One could really put that money to different use. He could go down in history for building hospitals, founding cancer research build local food kitchens, schools, help clean that damn ocean … Poor guy might get all depressed now. Where do you go when you’ve done everything?
I agree with you Jeanine – on top of it, I just heard this week, that because each of those guys, did not register to go on any type of fact-finding mission, they cannot officially consider themselves “astronauts” … good. When you’re a billionaire, you do one big thing spending lots of $$$, then are tired of that and have to go on. Sigh.
They aren’t astronauts? That’s funny. At least there is some sort of justice left in the world, Linda! Don’t think too much about it. Sometimes, no news, is good news 🙂
Ha ha – that’s what I thought too. Pity … all that way for nothing. Didn’t even stay long enough to send a postcard!
Great quote! Wonderful attitude, wish I had it 🙂
😅 erm … yup, he makes it sound rather easy
Exactly! If only… 🙂
I like this speech so much I copied it to my desktop!
Fantastic! I am so happy when I can make someone else happy 🙂 It is a damn good speech. And it leaves so many people with a bit of hope. My favorite concept was being chronologically challenged …
This is one of my favorite speeches and quotes. Make good art.
For those who’d like to watch & hear Neil Gaiman speak, there are videos of his commencement speech on You Tube
https://youtu.be/2OwRUyZMKwI
Awesome, thank you. I’ll check this out tonight!
LOVE ❤
Thank you Bonnie!
woouuuaw…. that’s a bit of a mouth full – and so very American! EVERYTHING is possible. I’ve got it, I do but also I find there are enough interesting, new mistakes to make that I don’t need encouragement 😉 😉
It’s nice to read you again, although it’s probably just me not reading my favourite blogs these days…. Lotsa love anyway 🙂
Oh, I guess you’re right. It does have pathos but the speech is really nice. He talkes about freelancing and making it in the arts … it would have been pretty motivating graduating.
We didn’t have a speech, not even a ceremony, no hats to throw. Andere Länder, andere Sitten 😉
Don’t worry Kiki, I have not been reading many of my favorite blogs. It is summer and after all that lockdown fun we should probably be outside …
Great quote, very inspiring! Thaaaanks … I really needed that today.