november
Slingshot Diaries Through Stained Glass Windows is a culmination of suffering and spiritual fulfillment – some would argue they are one and the same. I was handcuffed to this idea; it possessed me with the buzz of a methadone clinic at 5:59am. There is a sense of freedom in bringing it to life and letting it go. I did it for me; my sanity and survival depended on it. I believe in the book though. I hope it acts as a flashlight in the dark and helps a stranger find the desire to change. And if for some reason it does not, I am comforted by the fact it helped me do just that.
This process has taught me to trust gratitude far more than pride. Pride is dangerously cunning and intoxicates the spirit with delusion and arrogance. Gratitude is a grounding force that shifts the lens of our existence; there are great days and bad days, but even a bad day is a good day. One inflames self-centeredness and the other contributes to the greater good. Art has the power to do both, especially when it’s done well, so it should be handled with care.
I used to set up lemonade stands and mini yard sales by myself as a kid. I remember drawing and painting racetracks on big pieces of paper and gluing matchbox cars to them, sitting outside my mother’s house on a summer day, and doing my best to sell them. I’ve always enjoyed creating and hustling. I want to make an honest living distributing pieces of art I’ve created with my heart, mind, and soul; no generic clickbait driven drivel – raw expressions that serve the greater good.
Nobody is going to hustle for you – people will work for you or with you, some will support you and some won’t, but it’s up to you to connect the pieces and make it happen. I’ve fully accepted this challenge and have come to love the pursuit.
Have I accomplished everything I’ve dreamt of thus far? Absolutely not. Not even remotely close. But I’m a lot closer today than when I first started and that’s what keeps me hungry. I almost died in my twenties, more than once, so to make it this far is a blessing in itself. I believe I’m still here for a reason. God willing, I’m just getting started.
Thank you for supporting the vision.