President Adams Wants You To Calm Down #patience
President John Quincy Adams, son of founding father, and President John Adams, was quoted saying "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." This has particular pertinence for me as a writer, and artist (or, so I consider myself).
As I was told when I was younger, and find to be truer and truer as time goes on, patience for an artist is as necessary as a keen eye, ear, or sense of creativity and imagination. Often times while penning screenplays, my imagination will run much faster than I can get my ideas on paper (or computer), to which I then frustratingly forget crucial information, dialogue, etc. When I am photographing landscapes, I sometimes get so rushed to capture what I feel is a fleeting moment that will forever escape my grasp, I miss setting up a truly wonderful shot, and end up with a lack-luster product.
Not taking time to set up a correct frame for an interview, set a lavalier in the best position, or review footage is a common mistake made my many who rush through a project. Even doing simple, but somewhat tedious tasks in an edit bay can lead to mistakes and below-average results because of a lack of patience.
The point being, sometimes, when one is feeling rushed, taking a step back, a deep breath, and just being patient, as President J.Q. Adams said, will magically allow difficulties, mistakes, and obstacles to vanish. We're going to forget great ideas, miss "perfect pictures", and make mistakes as a product of rushing- the quicker we can accept that, and persevere, the sooner we can get back to being the amazing artists and creators we are.
