There’s a great deal to be said about the past four years.
Which, of course, is why Webster’s summarized it all with one word.
Their word of the year…
Surreal
Merriam-Webster defines “surreal” as “marked by the intense, irrational, reality of a dream.”
That’s a fine definition.
But it’s also kind of tricky. Like everything else has been the past four years. Because the word is also used by people to describe very real, and increasingly common, circumstances.
Frankly, I prefer the term “bummer.”
But, I’ll leave it to Stephen Colbert and Michael Stipe to give us a bit more context.
Bummer, right?
But no matter what the outcome of all this craziness was for you and your tribe, take heart.
We need you more than ever now.
You are not done yet.
There are things you can do to rescue good from the jaws of conceit, ineptitude, and downright evil.
The new, new normal?
In fact, I can think of five things that you can do that will make a difference in wacky times like these.
Change your little piece of the universe.
Make art. Make a difference
But in all your doing, most of all, continue to make art.
Art is your original gift.
It is your connection that changes those who receive it. It’s your human ability to make a difference.
Art isn’t a painting or even a poem. It’s something that any of us can do.
Art doesn’t follow instructions
Or a manual, or blessed best practices, or a boss’s orders.
Instead, art is the human act of creating the uncreated, of connecting with another person at a human level.
The risk that the artist takes is that you might not like what they create. Might not be touched by it. Might actually laugh at the effort.
So why should you keep doing it?
For the love of it
It’s the taking of these risks that leads us to the reward.
If you interact with others, you have the platform to create something new.
Something that changes everything.
And for what’s inside you
Don’t forget who you are and why you started this journey.
As a reminder, let’s call on the lyrics of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul from the film La La Land.
Here’s to the Ones Who Dream.
It’s well worth listening to the edited version for the trailer.
But it’s most enlightening to read the entire thing.
Here’s to the ones who dream
Foolish, as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that ache
Here’s to the mess we make
She captured a feeling
Sky with no ceiling
Sunset inside a frame
She lived in her liquor, and died with a flicker
I’ll always remember the flame
Here’s to the ones who dream
Foolish, as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that ache
Here’s to the mess we make
She told me:
A bit of madness is key to give us new colors to see
Who knows where it will lead us?
And that’s why they need us
So bring on the rebels
The ripples from pebbles
The painters, and poets, and plays
And here’s to the fools who dream
Crazy, as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that break
Here’s to the mess we make
For we are music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.
And the future, my friend, as always, belongs to the brave.
Who knows where it will lead us?
That’s why they need us.
So bring on the rebels, the storytellers, the painters, and poets, and plays.
Here’s to the marvelous mess we will make.
Dream on.
Rise up.
Make your voice heard.
Vote.
