let’s March on. your taste is killer.

Is it really March already? Darn, I missed the first. You’ll come to learn that I love a new chapter and that the first of anything is a hopeful thing in my book.

                                                                       .    .    .

I really love this quote by Ira Glass. One of my favorite people sent this in an email last year; the type of friend who knows my frustrations (so many), and always believes I’ll be great no matter how many times I fall (a lot). Also the type of friend who passes along inspiration. At the time, I was knee deep in all-baby-all-the-time, seeking creative outlet but stuck in insecurity. I printed that email and have had it taped to my wall ever since. I thought I’d “tape” it to the blog.

You may know this quote already, but if you don’t, I encourage you to read. This is a thought on being a beginner, about believing in your instincts, about working your talent, about fighting to develop it, about putting that process into perspective before comparing yourself to death, and about being a creative. If your struggle isn’t creative, just substitute. We all have something.

Yeah, yeah, I have more photo posts coming soon. Today, let’s read words.

 

TAPE_NO.04

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” —Ira Glass

TAPE NO.03

 

I don’t know, Ira. You think that you have taken longer to figure it out than anyone you know? Well, I might just give you a little run for your money. I am definitely still figuring things out. Sometimes I catch myself thinking “when I grow up” a little too often.  Still, I have learned from my very round-about and non-linear past that there’s no such thing as “being behind” when it comes to life. You jump around, and when you open yourself up, take chances and really pursue something, you tend to end up in interesting places.

And for those of you who have made it all the way down to here, I just want to say THANK YOU. I am sharing a very raw version of myself. I am still finding my voice. I am still learning my camera, and my photo editing has a lot to be desired. I don’t know how to show you things the way I envision it all. I don’t know exactly where I’m headed, but I’m working on it, and I’m really flattered that I have company. I’m glad you’re here.

I’m also a little embarrassed. That’s just how it is.

 


*the nifty masking tape images via Besotted, an absolutely beautiful blog that I recently discovered and a lovely place for inspiration.

if you like this post, “like” our facebook page to keep in the loop for more updates, conversation, and ya know, the extras, (here)

Leave a Reply to Henna Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

20 Thoughts on “let’s March on. your taste is killer.

  1. Rachel:

    It is fun to hear both you and Ira’s insights. I am glad you are stepping out in pursuit of something that will enrich you even if you have to be raw. Vulnerability when done in the right context is beautiful. I also completely agree with you support of the starts of things. The beginning is sweet when you haven’t messed up yet or fallen short of your vision. I have to learn to keep moving on and not quitting when things don’t go the way I hope they will.

    • Rachel, my sentiments exactly! Isn’t it so nice when things are sweet and nothing is “messed up”? It’s that powering through part… :)

  2. Shirley:

    Henna, thanks for the inspiration–gotta love the “killer taste”. Your work, however, is already phenominal; you’ve got some killer photography going there! But humility is good & so is continued learning. :)

  3. JaeHi:

    Thank you for such moving article, both from you and Ira Glass. Such pursuit never ends yet one day we will see we have changed!

    • I’m glad you liked the quote! I just love it. :)

  4. Oh Henna! Life is a string of constantly figuring things out. You may never be ‘done’, but they say that ‘the journey is the reward’. I have come to believe that, just keep it up and don’t give up if it’s something you really, really want; If it’s not, brush yourself off and move on to other things. It’s the way I cut my losses, lol. Thank you for the link, looks beautiful!

    • Wow, it’s QUITE a treat for me that you have come here and read my post. Thank you, you are such a lovely person and a talent that I find so inspiring! For those of us who are always “figuring things out” life is an interesting thing, isn’t it? :)

  5. Uncle Paul:

    Henna,
    Thanks for letting me know about this website. It’s great! I am not a “Face Booker” (is that a real word?) but this gives me some way to keep in touch with the family.

  6. tita:

    Don’t ever (either in the beginning or in the end) compare yourself (or your work, or your children, or your life) to others. There will only be those that are better than you, and this will only make you feel that you are lesser, or those that are not as good as you, and this will only make you feel that you are better…this would mean that you will feed either insecurity or arrogance…what a waste of a beautiful soul.

    • So true! Wise words from Theodore Roosevelt – “comparison is the thief of joy.” ha, I’m just full of quotes these days. :)

  7. Catherine:

    Henna! You made me cry in the middle of starbucks! While I’m trying to work! We seem to be going through life in parallel, and you have no idea how awesome this post is for me right now. You’re braver than I am, and a far better writer. And photographer. :) Thank you for sharing.

    • Pretty sure that NO ONE is braver than you. That’s all I’m gonna say. xo

  8. Don’t be embarrassed. Your honesty is adorable.

  9. Pingback: new hair + figuring it out | HENNA BLOSSOM

  10. Pingback: the gulf between my desire & ambition and my naked abilities | HENNA BLOSSOM

  11. Hi Henna… I just blog as a hobby and I’m not really a good writer and I still consider myself a “newbie” in this field but your post/s inspired me and I’m still in process of finding my voice too…

    Btw, your photos are amazing! :-)

  12. Not sure how I’m only reading this now, or why I found it (I searched Henna Blossom in bloglovin and this comment feed came up, random) or maybe I did read it before, it just didn’t resonate with me then like it did now…anywho. I love it. Thank you. That really is the struggle isn’t it? Feeling inadequate because I’m not measuring up to my good taste, but damn it I’m trying anyway! I need to be more patient with myself and forgive myself for not being farther along after, you know,*cough*, A YEAR of doing this. That’s all. One year since I said, I want to be a photographer, I need to find myself some beautiful people to shoot. I met with an accountant last week. I asked her what to put as my profession, homemaker? “You’re a photographer! Own it!” she said. Turns out it doesn’t matter that I spent more on my camera and lenses than I made last year. I’m still a photographer. And I’m excited to see where I’ll be five years from now. I’m excited about all of the faces I have yet to photograph, the people I have yet to meet. So. I wanted to share that with you. Keep killing it over on the old ‘gram. I’m loving it.

Post Navigation