“As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.”  – Mary Anne Radmacher

So I spent a little bit of time with my daughter this evening helping her create a few special goodie bags for her friends for an up and coming birthday. The look in her eyes as she methodically placed her special gifts to her friends into uniquely and individually designed bags got my mind wandering. I started to articulate what was on my mind, but stopped short of uttering the first word. It was a thought that I am not even sure I can put into words now, but here goes.

I have noticed recently that the most special of moments in life seem to revolve around the sheer act of giving and sharing your art. Seems a lot of people get stuck on the word “Art” and “Artist” and feel left out when they read something like that. My own personal definition of art includes sharing what you were meant to share. The person who shares an ear and a comforting thought is no less an artist than the painter who puts acrylic to canvas or the musician who crafts a melody to the song. The old neighbor that passionately tells the young child an inspirational story from their travels is no less an artist than the dancer that perfects a spin or the author that hits the New York Times Best Seller list. Regardless of your definition, I think you have to agree that some of the most special moments in life are when these passionate exchanges take place…..when the artist shares his gift.

I quote Seth Godin quite a bit here on the blog, and as you can see below, he has an amazing way with sharing the same thought (just in case I completely boshed it up!)

“Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator.

What makes someone an artist? I don’t think is has anything to do with a paintbrush. There are painters who follow the numbers, or paint billboards, or work in a small village in China, painting reproductions. These folks, while swell people, aren’t artists. On the other hand, Charlie Chaplin was an artist, beyond a doubt. So is Jonathan Ive, who designed the iPod. You can be an artists who works with oil paints or marble, sure. But there are artists who work with numbers, business models, and customer conversations. Art is about intent and communication, not substances.

An artists is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artists takes it personally.

That’s why Bob Dylan is an artist, but an anonymous corporate hack who dreams up Pop 40 hits on the other side of the glass is merely a marketer. That’s why Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, is an artists, while a boiler room of telemarketers is simply a scam.

Tom Peters, corporate gadfly and writer, is an artists, even though his readers are businesspeople. He’s an artists because he takes a stand, he takes the work personally, and he doesn’t care if someone disagrees. His art is part of him, and he feels compelled to share it with you because it’s important, not because he expects you to pay him for it.

Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does.

Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.”

― Seth Godin, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

The Daily Image – Into the Light of the Day

I barely had to roll out bed for this one! At the very end of Sanibel Island on Florida West Coast is a little place called Captiva. Not a place I’d like to hunker down for a storm of any size, but a peaceful and quiet place to get a recharge. I found this little dock just as the morning light was breaking over the horizon. After about 15 minutes of wiping the humidity and condensation off of the Nikon 14-24 lens (it gets pretty humid down here), I set up the sticks to capture a few brackets.

Incidentally, I hear the new Photomatix version 5 is in beta right now from RC and Trey. Check it out here!

As always, more on ALL of this later…..