HANG IN THERE

 By Kelly "K. W." Bowlin

If you’re an artist of any sort, do what you love, there is NO taking back time. This is it. Your validation in the end, is KNOWING….KNOWING….you did what you’re passionate about, what drives you.

You uncover the statue in the marble; you form the words, and play the notes. YOU ARE AN ARTIST FIRST. In the end, you don’t measure your success by your sales, fame or fortune. Those things are as much a matter of luck as sheer talent. You are successful when you can look back and know “I said what I had to say and uncovered the beauty in my heart and soul.”

A poster that touched me today said: “Much is made of genius and talent, but the foundation of any life where you get to realize your ambitions is simply being able to out-last everyone through the tough, crappy times — whether through sheer determination, a strong support network, or simply a lack of options.”

Being an artist means taking risks because you open yourself to public criticism and ridicule. Roosevelt once wrote, “Kudos to those who enter the arena to dare mighty things, to strive for glorious triumphs, at the risk of failure and being beaten, bruised and bloodied…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.”

HANG IN THERE…..be brilliant, be creative, say what you have to say.

The world will be a better place for it.

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Kelly Bowlin has had over 500 articles, op-eds, and essays, published in a variety of magazines and online sites including Road and Travel, The Digital Journal, L.A. Examiner, AND Magazine, eHow, and The Comic Bible. His first novel “The Mosquito Sting”published in 2012. He recently published Living and Dying in Shorts, a collection of 24 short stories about family drama and dark humor. He’s also an accomplished musician, singer/songwriter whose group, The Kelly Bowlin Band won the 2006 Southern California Music Award for Best Roots Rock. He currently lives in Cripple Creek, Colorado with his wife Mary, and ornery Lhasa Apso puppy. Website link:Kwbwritings.utopianrealms.org Facebook:The Writings of K.W. Bowlin  Twitter: kwbowlin