“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.”Adam Lindsay Gordon, Finis Exoptatus, 1867
How easy it is to become doubtful in the darkness of short winter days, in the depths of a wakeful night, in the midst of a multitude of brushmarks that seem to be going nowhere.
Lost courage and doubt are cousins to creative block. All come visiting uninvited and unwanted, hang around and make you question yourself, but do go away again. It’s hard to hear their footsteps as they approach so you might shut the door before they enter. Once they’re in, say hello, listen for as short a time as possible and show them the door by reminding yourself of what you have achieved and not focusing on where you haven’t gotten to yet.
