Whenever I begin a new novel, I get a little twinge of excitement. There’s something about black ink on faded paper that makes me feel like I’m traveling somewhere new, whether it’s a destination I’ve always dreamt of, or a different era in time. I get so easily attached to characters and begin feeling what they’re feeling along a journey, and hoping for the best to happen to them. How is it that anyone can feel this way about something that is imaginary?
I get a similar feeling when walking through an art museum and wondering how anybody could be so talented to use the right amount of paint, the perfect swish of a brush, to capture a scene on a canvas, to portray a life-like image.
Whenever I hear live music I feel a rush of adrenaline. How every instrument sounds so different on its own yet so perfect together will never cease to amaze me. How lyrics can move me and make me think of different ways to look at a situation, or make me feel drawn closer to the artist is a kind of intimacy I love.
Art is more than just expression. It is a step closer to unity. It requires open mindedness, seeking to know others better, and relinquishing judgment of another in an effort to appreciate their work and talents. Art matters because people matter. The moment we stop caring about art is the moment we stop caring about people, about their stories and perspectives, about understanding where they come from, about their desires, about their fears, about all the ways we are alike, about all the ways we wish for the same things, and ultimately about what makes humanity as a whole, beautiful.
Taking the time to view and think of art strays away from the fatal cycle of striving to be productive every second of the day. It is a return to finding something beautiful in the world we live in, intentionally choosing to slow down and take something in. Art teaches us that in the pursuit of understanding and appreciating others more, we simultaneously develop a rhythm of slowness, thoughtfulness, and empathy. Cultivating such traits are ultimately the gateway to a more peaceful, accepting, and loving community.
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