Gia Raquel

Photo by Jake Bolling

Is your life a work of art? If I were to answer that, I could see my life as a plastic knife stuck in a brick. Someone would look at it confused, probably laugh at how odd it is, but would completely forget to look in the background. Back there, is a car crash that has been almost completely blurred so all focus is on the brick and knife. Even I laugh at the image, thinking how weirdly amusing my life can be represented by a plastic knife in a brick. Like, what does that even mean? What do you feel when you look at it, ponder it? But truly, think about it. Do you even see your life as art? If you do, what comes with that?

Recently, a copy of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield has reached my hands. From the first few pages, you are introduced to the topic of Resistance. Resistance is the force we all feel when we want to finish something meaningful or necessary, but stray from doing so regardless of the reward. Because art has grown into such a large part of my life, the Resistance of art Pressfield talks about majorly caught my attention. There are so many instances where I grow ecstatic over a project I feel will push my art career further, but I become discontent with the idea of it the very same day. What gives? Why do I feel this need to stop pursuing the very same thing that inspired me a few hours prior? It’s Resistance! Resistance is the little devil dancing on those brownies you want to eat when you just finished that intense workout. You wonder, can you still eat the brownies? Well, flick off the tiny devil and eat a brownie! With moderation, it’s a win-win! What I’m trying to say is, you have to learn how to resist Resistance, but while still making yourself happy with what you’re doing.

There’s a big difference between Resistance and taking a break. Breaks are healthy, they let you tread water as you try to remember how to swim. The troubling factor is, Resistance seems to be everywhere. It’s present in family, friends, lovers, and especially yourself. How can you run away from that? Well frankly, you don’t. In many occasions, I will choose flight over fight. Often times with Resistance, I chose to run away from both it and my artwork. This results in nothing getting finished. But what I’ve realized over and over is that you need to let yourself get punched by Resistance. You’re Rocky Balboa first starting out, barely making it up the stairs. You’re getting punched, bruised, and cut relentlessly and mercilessly. You’re on the ground, there’s ringing in your ears, your vision is black…

Now, it’s time to get up. Go kick some ass.

You don’t have to believe that your life is a piece of art. I know so many who would scoff at the idea. Because if your life is art, couldn’t everybody’s? Would that just make everybody’s lives just another piece of art in a sea of it? Questions! So many philosophical questions can plague the minds revolving art! But those questions don’t have to be answered. Not now, at least. Right now, you are still in the ring fighting for your worth. It is bloody and gory, but you love it. We all love the ease of creation when it comes so suddenly and miraculously. But why do we love it? Because it means we have won for today. We have won that fight against Resistance until the next one begins. And when it happens again, you won’t be ready. You’ll be flying high, believing you can create for as long as your life lets you. Then we begin again.

And boy, you better win.

You know better now. You can reach the top of those endless stairs. The art you have scattered in your mind is real. There’s always time for wallowing in self-pity, but this is not one of those times. A life of art is painful and dreadful, but look at what you’ve done if you get through it.

Your own tangible creation is the most beautiful thing you might ever see. Now give yourself the chance to see it.