The Circle of Life

 

                                    The author with a mysterious writer friend at Art Omi

 

One day, once upon a time when I worked at Paramount, I told a producer I was thinking about quitting the business. He discouraged me from leaving, saying this--

Getting ahead in Hollywood is like waiting in a long line outside a concert. The line wraps around the block. If you get out of the line, the line will move up, and then you won't be able to get back in the line. You'll have to go to the back and by then, the line will be twice as long. So, no matter what happens, you must stay in the line.

This image of a line has always stayed with me. I can’t help but imagine being on line for a Bruce Springsteen concert and then needing to take a bathroom break. Would no one hold my place in line? Then, would I lose my place? But, if I stayed in line, would I end up wetting myself?

I suppose I balk at the idea of a lines and the linear nature of lines. How boring and inflexible a line can be.

I like to think of life as a circle. With a circle, there's no such thing as a beginning or an end. There’s no chance of losing your place. You can get off, and then get on again at any point. Perhaps in a better place. And, perhaps this is all happening at once. Time, that is. Isn't that what Albert Einstein suggested when he talked about the theory of relativity and the possibility of time travel?

Okay, maybe that was Dr. Who.

Creative Friends--these are tumultuous times. There's a pressure to stay in line and focus on whatever fresh hell the day brings us. We believe that the power of our unwavering, steadfast attention will keep things from further unraveling. But this is not really true. And, besides—you are not Atlas. You do not need to hold up the entire world to save us. Rather, you can serve humanity best by making art--writing, painting, dancing, playing the piano. Writing protest songs. You are not on a line, you are on a circle. And you will never lose your place, because you’re place is everywhere. Don’t forget—you are creative and strong and smart and brave.

Love,

Jamie