The life of a creative person is filled not only with successes, but also with rejection, trial, and error. Encouragement can be hard to find at times. Many years ago, at a difficult time in my life, a good friend sent me the below quote by the legendary Martha Graham to her friend Agnes de Mille, and it ever reminds me to honor what is unique in myself, in spite of what may be going on in the world. I've shared it before and will share it again without apology, because it is a foundation stone of my life:
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of 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. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others." (Martha Graham to Agnes de Mille)