“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening,
that translates through you into action, and because there is only one of you
in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist
through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good
it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly
and directly, to keep the channel open.” - Martha Graham
I became acquainted with the Martha Graham dance company, an
innovative modern dance group, in the 1980’s when I had the good fortune to see
them perform in New York City. Martha Graham was still alive then and even though she was too aged and frail to
perform, after the performance she was brought on stage in a wheel chair to a
standing ovation.
During her life time she achieved tremendous success as a woman who
transformed the world of dance by bringing her own daring expression and vision
to her art form.
I happened to fall in love with modern dance in the 1970’s
when in college I enrolled in several classes along with dance majors and
football players who were encouraged by their coaches to take dance in order to
help improve their game. Dance for me was a much needed break from my other
more practical classes as well as a form of self- expression, a means of
tapping into the joy and passion that comes from doing what you love. As Martha Graham once said, “Great dancers
are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their
passion.” I believe this applies to
anything in life we set our hearts and minds to accomplishing.
I also believe each one of us has a unique expression or gift to share with the world, whether we are aware of it or not. I knew this even when I doubted it for
myself, and have come to realize how imperative it is that we speak up and act
on what we know to be true.
The line of questioning I have often followed is, “How does
one keep the creative channels open?” as Martha Graham implores. I recall as a child how I loved playing
outdoors, riding my bicycle, exploring nature, climbing trees with my brothers,
and digging in the dirt. I didn’t mind
getting dirty because I loved what I was doing. It was fun. The same holds true today, my passion and joy
for life is sustained by doing what I love. Love is what keeps the channel open
and creative juices flowing.
I’ve discovered that this mighty force has within it a wisdom
all its own that nourishes and informs, ever guiding us in ways our old habits
and limiting thoughts could never do. At
some point this love for what we do begins nudging us in new directions we never
thought possible. And because it is an
energy that cannot be contained, it begins moving us in the direction of our dreams.
Remember those?
Yes, dreams. We all had
them as children. Then we became adults
(some of us anyway) and fell in line with the way adults think and behave. For no good reason our dreams, those avenues
of silly self-expression, began to fade and eventually fell by the
wayside. However, we can go back at any
time and pick them up again because they are right where we left them, plus a
few cobwebs and dust. They might even
require some resuscitative measures to get them back up and running, yet
nothing is lost forever. And of course,
if you are like me, you will need to be reminded, “It is not your business to
determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other
expressions. It is your business to keep
it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
Of course there will be moments of self-doubt, self-judgement and even stagnation. But it is not your
business to assign a value of good or bad, or put a label on it, because to do
so would be reverting back to the old ways, the limiting, constricting beliefs
we once bought into. Energy can’t flow
through areas of constriction; it only flows through openings. So the highways and byways of the psyche and
soul must be kept open at all costs.
You will come up with ways, your own ways, to maintain an open channel. The things that resonant
deeply, that send chills up and down your spine, or make you laugh out loud are all signs you are moving in the right direction, you are on the “right”
path, the path that speaks to you, that makes you feel alive, that comes to you in your dreams and in the
quiet moments when you are alone.
And remember: “If you block
it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.” The world needs your one–of-kind expression, your love, your
creativity and passion. It needs mine
too. Let’s not hold back any longer.
