“Failure is a Matter of Perspective.”

– Patty Eskridge

A Bright Idea

Thomas Alva Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.

1,000 unsuccessful attempts. . . .

When a reporter asked him how it felt to fail 1,000 times; Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

In today’s society – with social media, the internet, T.V. – we are led to believe that too many things can happen with the snap of a finger. 

Why wait or go to all that trouble when you can buy it, order it, see it NOW!?

Why did Edison persist? One thousand attempts at anything is almost unbelievable . . . or is it?

Perspective

How many attempts does it take for a baby to learn to walk?

And after a baby learns to walk, then what? Run?? How long will that take??

That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? 

As adults, we may have patience with children learning to do new things, but do we have it for ourselves?

Are we starting to lose our ability to continue attempting and persevering even though we may fall short the first time, the second time, the hundredth time?Anything that you attempt – cooking, running marathons, raising children, building a house, creating, etc. – is about taking one step at a time.

Absolutely, Yes!

Would I consider myself an artist even though I haven’t sold much of my art; even though I have less than 2,000 followers on Instagram; and even though my art isn’t displayed in a gallery??

ABSOLUTELY, YES!! I am an ARTIST!!! 

Why? Because I believe it, and I know it’s not something I can accomplish overnight.

Through the years, I’ve seen improvement in myself as an artist. It’s my perspective of what I’ve accomplished that makes me feel like a success.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop pushing myself to continue, because I think perspective is all about “baby steps,” if you’ll pardon the pun. Thank God, Edison realized that too. 

Don’t let the algorithm, or the # of likes you get (or don’t get) defeat you. You’re not a failure.  If you say you are an artist (or fill in the blank for you), don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s all about perspective.

Make Some Art People!