To be an Artist

What does it mean to be an artist?
Neither does a painting nor a poem nor a dance make you an artist
Nor does an absence of any prove that you are not
You are an artist if you have delved deep enough to know your truth
And bring that truth consistently into the world, and own it

Neither does giving up the material world make you an artist, nor does embracing it stop you from being one
You are an artist if you can hear that inner voice clearly enough-And believe it
If you don’t belittle it, ignore it, hide it, or worse- mistrust it when the world seems to point another way
When you don’t need to convince another to prove to yourself that you are right
Nor look to others to provide you answers

Neither does recognition or proof of your skill make you an artist, nor does lack of it mean that you are not
You are an artist when you neither feel small in the company of giants
Nor feel tall among those less evolved
But can see the common humanity running through all
And feel and touch the myriad shapes and shades of smiles and sorrows and fears and dreams

Neither do rags make an artist nor do riches take away from one
You are an artist as long as you can sit with your vulnerabilities and fears and hopes and love
And feel no need to cover them up, nor exploit them

When you can be brave enough to be vulnerable
And smart as well as stupid enough to be honest
When you know at any moment
That only the soul stays with you till the end
And you never forget to hold its hand or seek its counsel
You are an artist

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