Pliable Pivot
Sunday evening musings…it’s been a couple of weeks.
I am realizing self-care comes in many forms and am discovering that for myself. In that discovery, I must remain pliable in order to see those possibilities, and then give myself permission to pivot and claim that.
The idea of staying pliable has been an underlying theme throughout this pandemic year. It has revealed itself during this time in a way we haven’t had always had to have permission to look at it before. Or needed to.
As artists, as seekers, as observers, as story-tellers through whatever art form we are immersed, if we don’t remain pliable, what are we doing? Why does it matter? Why care?
If you aren’t pliable, you may answer with “yeah, but” a lot. Okay, you can make excuses for self-preservation and say that nothing is clear or certain, so “yeah, but” , “so, but”, “no, but” are legitimate responses.
They ARE legitimate responses. They happen out of fear, rage, insecurity. However, they just create a mud in your being that refuses you the permission to shift, to pivot, to stay pliable and try. They give us the false security that we are okay just where we are.
Those who remain true to their pliability may say “no”. However, it’s “no, and”…or “no, however…”. it gives way to possibility. “Yes, and” can take that possibility into a pivot, and the pivot reveals the pliability to actually pivot with more direction, and more determination.
If there is no attempt to try, or to at least see what might happen, what could happen, what has the possibility to happen, then what are you seeking? What stories are we telling? The ones that are now irrelevant? What are we revealing? Anything profound, universal or worth exploration? Maybe pre-pandemic status quo made you comfortable, or gave you the illusion it did; maybe it didn’t; maybe it gave you an excuse; a place to hide; maybe it just caused you to sleepwalk as you “tried”.
Everything has changed. Our industry has changed. Our society and our community has changed, is demanding change, and is shining a light on what absolutely needs to change. It is changing NOW. The pivot is larger than us.
Where’s your pliability? What are you willing to say “Yes, and” to? What are you willing to say “No, and” to?
What will you stay pliable for? What possibilities are you willing to pursue, willing and determined to create, excited to see?
How will you embrace a pivot and not revolt against it?
Or will the pivot pass you by? And listen, it’s a choice. Yours. You don’t have to do anything. It’s still going to happen.
However, if every verb we inhabit has action, and you show no desire to inhabit that action, then what you assume for yourself, may never come to pass, even after our industry opens again. Because it will open. It will demand something else. Of all of us.
Out of deep ashes, great possibilities arise. The artist’s pliability and the grand pivot are awaiting us to say “yes” to; dare I say, “HELL, YES!” to.
With me? Scared? Excited AND scared? (see what I did there?)
Oh, hell, yes.
with fondness & fierceness,
Susan
