August 3rd, 2011
Picasso created over 20,000 pieces of art in his lifetime (though by some counts its over 50,000). That ends up being 1 piece of art a day, for the entire duration of his life. He lived to be 91 years old.
He is also considered the top ranked artist based on sales at auctions. Vincent Van Gogh however, well he only sold one painting during his entire life.
But here’s the thing. He only painted for nine years, you know, because he died and all that. So during nine short years, he created some 900 paintings.
So basically, every four days he created another piece.
And he didn’t even start painting until he was 28 years old.
You’re not too old to start something new. And you’re certainly not too busy to create fantastic things.
Very great point here. I think about this when it comes to starting a family. I have a few more years before I start my family and it doesn’t matter how old I am when it happens. I know that regardless of how old I am, my family will be precious and priceless to me. I am also 27 years old and just starting out my yoga career. I look at it as I have 75 more years to do yoga. When you look at it that way, we have many years to be experts. I have many years to be a yoga teacher, a special education teacher, and even a great mom.
I love this!
Meg, exactly! If you live to be at least 94, well shoot, then you’re still a child! You’ve got plenty of time to live a full life. But you best keep on it now!
Hooray for this point, David. I hear it all the time–we get set in a life and we feel like we’re resigned to it. People say, “If I had it to do all over again…” And they DO have it to do all over again, they just are too afraid or too resigned or too… many things. It takes great examples like these to make that clear.
The other thing here, too, is that we can do something different and start something new, and it doesn’t have to be Picasso or Van Gogh quality. The new thing doesn’t have to be perfect, or amazing, or zillion-dollar-earning. What’s important is that it has to feel fulfilling; it has to matter. If there were more of us who did work with kind of that feeling in this world, we’d all be better off.
Well the cool thing about Picasso and Van Gogh is that they were insanely passionate and truly believed in their work. The difference is one guy lived an awesome life with all the benefits of his success, the other toiled in misery. But regardless, they both created with insanity and DEFINED what it is to be awesome.
Well put! I equate saying you’re too busy to pursue a dream with saying you’re too busy to be happy. I once was too busy to write; but I found plenty of time to watch bad TV. And saying you’re too old? Too old = too afraid, too comfortable to be challenged.
Yoneco, that’s exactly the right idea. We are too busy to do what we *may* love, but we have time to waste (bad tv, great example!).
You already know you’re a great example of go-getting your life.
I’m glad you enjoyed that line. I think it was one of my favorites, but I was concerned it would be too awkward to read. Oh well, I try to write like I talk, right?
For one it is all a matter of prioritizing. There is time for almost anything you want to do in life if you focus on it and leave the rest completely aside or have it done by someone else (outsourcing your business or parts of your life).
You are right, it is never too late – judged by ones age – to start with something you are passionate about. But it can be too late! We never know if there will be another day. If you feel you gut it in you and are passionate about a thing then better don’t postpone it – start with it right away.
You’re right Philipp. It ends up being more than just priority though. That’s what really get’s me motivated. I want to create and live with that intensity.
Great example David!
It’s all about the pathways we take. The commonality between those two arts is that they both took pathways true to themselves and although the outcomes were different they still fulfilled their belief in creating beautiful things.
No matter where we are in life it’s exactly where we need to be. Never too late or too early.
Thanks Chris! The benefit of recognizing the importance of now, and doing it up with a passion and fervor. I love the intensity in which they produced. So damn inspiring.
[...] of Almost Bohemian wrote a short, inspirational post about the excuses we make about our creativity and the reality behind [...]
Hi David,
I tell people this all of the tome when they state that they are too old to start something new.
and this is a great post.
vincent was too revolutionary for it’s times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdM5ovvamD8
he didn’t care much for money.
anyway, you have a good lesson here David. love to be at your blog as always
derek
Hi David,
I think my comment was removed, because I put a link to YouTube video. It was just a link to video about Van Gogh. I think your software treated it as spam.
Oh, well, that’s what you get when you mess with links in comments;)
I love the post.
Derek
I got ya Derek. Links always welcomed here!
Thanks for sharing!
[...] You’re Just Too Old and Busy « Almost Bohemian Source: almostbohemian.com [...]
This is awesome! I try not to even think about being 42 because damn it, I still feel like I am in my 20′s! I still feel very much like there is so much opportunity ahead of me! Every time i start something new or explore new things, people sometimes look at it negatively like I just need to grow up or I am seeking perfection that I will never find or something. They do not get that life is all about exploring and discovering and living passionately as there is no destination or final stop. (this is one of the reasons I got divorced – he was content to mow the lawn and watch tv).
I get frustrated when people live as if life is already over for them, with regret clearly in their eyes. When it is my own family, it breaks my heart. But, people are on their own journey. They need to find their way. All we can do is hope to inspire others!
Liane, I for one am very happy to know you just go for it. I like what you said about people looking at it negatively. It’s strange how people take things like this as an assault on their way of life.
I love the brevity and astuteness of this article, David. I declared myself to be an author in my 60′s. The moment we give up on evolving and creating ourselves anew is the moment we become resigned to a life of “quiet desperation” (quoth Thoreau).
I love this, David! And wholeheartedly agree it’s never too late to start something new, or pick up where you left off on something you used to do. I’m 42 as well, but took up martial arts at 36. And I’m thinking about all the things I’d wanted to do before 40 but didn’t. I realized instead of setting some kind of weird deadline, I should just do it – whatever IT may be – whether hiking the Grand Canyon or learning to play the fiddle.
I love the way your “voice” comes through in the posts, David! Great “meeting” you on Walkabout!
Elizabeth
I feel ashamed with all those numbers. Sometimes I struggle to come up with 2 articles for my blog let again paint 1 piece every day. Those were true hard-workers and passionate for their crafts.
I aspire to reach that level of passion.
Short and sweet, right to the point. I loved reading this, and probably loved Meg’s comment just as much, too. Love you!
[...] A few days after I hit publish on this, David of Almost Bohemian wrote a wonderful post that drives home Lesson 7 quite well. Read more from Life, [...]
what the hell is going on here? i’m lost in a web of blogs reciting dusty platitudes.
I had no idea Van Gogh didn’t start painting until he was 28 years old! How interesting. I do agree that it’s never too late to start doing something you love. Thanks for the advice
Laurie
[...] kept his brother going, but he also financially supported Vincent too. Remember, Vincent sold only one painting in his [...]