Glowing Grey

There’s no denying technology has come a long way from when I was a child. Today we are more connected than any other time in history but it could also be argued we are also the loneliest too. Mental health is at an all time low and our sense of self seems blurred and confused.

Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s had a few good things going for it. Life was slower and more simple back then. No internet, no mobile phones and FOMO was a foreign concept.

Our social connections were done face to face or over the old dial-up telephone, more often than not with our parents in the same room. Comparing ourselves to others was still a part of life (hello teenage years) but not at all like the level it is today because we simply weren’t exposed to the relentless intrusion that social media can impose on us.

The Dilemma

Now days things are so different. Our pace of life is faster while our attention span is shorter. We have everything we need at the touch of a button and our lives seem to be permanently on display for the world to see, judge and comment on; whether good or bad. Sensationalism seems to be the only way to grab our attention.

“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” – Steven Furtick

From our daily lattes, our family holidays, children’s milestones and always a crowd pleaser, our rants and family problems, it can all be found online and in our feeds. And comparison is never far behind.

Growing up well before the internet, I had a smaller circle of influence made up of my family and close friends. This was a select group of people whose opinion was all that mattered to me and had any sway on my life and decisions.

I can remember spending hours in my room as a child drawing. I would lose track of time as I worked on my newest and greatest creation and when I was finished I would inevitably show my family. Mum would always tell me how good it was, even if it probably wasn’t, but that was enough praise to make me proud of my efforts and keep me interested in creating more.

I would choose to create things that interested me or challenged me but it would never be influenced by others because I simply had no frame of reference for comparison.

Whilst the internet brings with it an endless supply of inspiration, where does the line blur and push us into an unhealthy area of comparison and external validation.

How much of what we produce in life today is made from our heart without the goal being validation from an audience that falls outside our circle of influence? This question guides my creativity and seems more important than ever since starting this blog.

So what would you choose to create even if no one was going to see it?

The Muse

Unless you have an interest in photography you have most likely never come across the name Vivian Maier, but for me, she has left a legacy that I find more important than ever in today’s society.

Vivian Maier (1926-2009) was a very private person who lead a simple unassuming life. She worked as a nanny for over 40 years in both New York City and Chicago. During this time she developed an interest in photography which would keep her snapping away for more than 50 years.

But here is the good stuff.

In 2007, two years before her death, her storage locker went up for sale and what was uncovered would catapult her name out of obscurity and into the world of photography fame.

It turns out that Vivian was a very prolific photographer. What was found in this locker were more than 150,000 photos, film not digital, including box after box of unprocessed negatives.

Along with being prolific, it was discovered that Vivian Maier was also a very talented photographer, with her work giving an insight into mid-century American life and cementing her name as one of the best street photographers of the 20th century.

And for more than 50 years no one even knew she, or her work, existed.

So why would she spend her years making photos that would end up in a box inside a forgotten storage locker?

The Solution

A magical thing happens when we become middle aged. We begin to care less of what others may think of us and more about what we are doing and who we are becoming. There’s a sense of freedom when you are content with the person you are and not feel the pressure to be everything to everyone.

I believe the buzz word out now is authenticity and let’s face it, life is not meant to be a carefully curated social media feed.

“Comparison is the thief of joy” – Theodore Roosevelt

Vivian Maier is the epitome of this outlook. She spent her photographic life honing her skills and capturing the world through her own unique lens. The end result or audience was of no importance. Regardless of why there were so many unprocessed negatives, she continued to go out every day and make more photographs, because that was what brought her joy.

She inspires me to produce work and live a life that is authentically me, regardless of what is fashionable, trending, liked or subscribed to.

Creativity comes from our own unique souls and reflects our individual experiences in life. It is how we relate to the world around us, how we process our thoughts and emotions, and how we discover who we are.

It can feel daunting and vulnerable to be true to ourselves but the world is already full of everyone else and there is only one you, so give yourself the gift of authenticity and share yourself to the world.

Until next time,

Do you have a Muse? How do you feel about authentic creativity in today’s modern world? Thank you for reading.