I know, I know, it is hard to stop me talking at the mo. Must be holidays. I am all relaxed and have free time on my hands which is usually my scarcest commodity.

Recently, I have been asking for all sorts of things from grants for creative projects I am involved with, to programs to go and study overseas, and lots more in-between. And because I have been putting myself ‘out there’ a lot, I have been hearing the word ‘NO’ a lot. No matter if it is said bluntly, matter-of-factly or kindly, “No” is still a blow to the ego. Often it has the force of a sharp slap in the face.

But, I have realised in the last few days that the word ‘No’ rarely means ‘No’. Instead, it can mean all sorts of things. There is usually an unspoken clause which goes with it. It may be “No, until you have the qualifications we are looking for”, or “No, until you can write an application with a lot more evidence to back up your ideas”, or “No, not this year, but please apply next year. In fact, we usually only accept people who have applied two or three times”. So, the word “No”, can in many cases mean “Yes, if you do this or that or jump through these hoops for me”.

This realisation has helped to boost my confidence. In fact I would guess that hearing “No” a lot is par for the course in the beginning stages of trying to eke out a a living from your art. I have a suspicion that the people who hear “No” as “No” are the ones who quit before they earn enough money to make their art their career.

Well, I am one of the people who doesn’t hear “No” as just “No”. If you say “No” to me I hear also many ways that the “No” can be a “Yes”. Then I don’t feel so bad and I know that I will just keep going until I fulfil all my creative goals fulfilled and until I am earning enough money so that people know, once and for all, that I have chosen my path. Or maybe it has chosen me.

Have a good one!

Mia

PS There have also been some wonderful and astounding, unqualified “Yes’s” amidst the “No’s”. I am sure that I will be talking about these when I can.  

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