There’s a podcast hosted by Brian Koppelman called, “The Moment.” He interviews creators of all kind with the foundational questions being, “What was the moment when you found yourself at a turning point? What was the moment that put you on track for your future to take hold? What the was the moment when you saw yourself in a new way that opened the door for the rest of the story to unfold?” Or something along those lines to delineate between the frustrated creator and the more powerful creative identity that helped shape them. It’s like the Steve Pressfield idea in his book, “The War of Art” about going pro. Going pro, in his book, describes the shift from holding the work really close and personal in a delicate protective way, to loving the work so deeply you are willing to be vulnerable and exposed in your journey toward championing the work as it gets out into the wider world.
Is this my moment? How do you know when the moment happens or is it a slow burn progression that can only be identified after the fact?
I feel like I’m in a moment. I feel like I’m seeing the fruit of my years and years of labor. I’m feeling amazed and satisfied at how this record, “Sweetheartland,” is being received and I am thinking things I’ve never thought before such as: What if my dreams really do come true? I could stop and take a little sliver of the pie, but also, what if I didn’t stop and positioned myself for a bigger piece than I am used to taking?
Some of you are long time readers of this quiet little blog. Some of you are new to this realm of Hope Dunbar Music. Hell, I’m kinda new to this realm of Hope Dunbar Music….or maybe I’m not. Is this the moment when I let myself be who I’ve always imagined myself to be when I am alone and in my imagination?
With coffee (The Royale) in my hand beside my husband on the couch looking out our front window onto the street where the trees are budding green leaves and the lawn’s sporting a matching hue, I say, “This is my moment. This is the top of the world for me. Let’s celebrate.” And he says, “How do you know this is the top? How do you know it’s the end and not the beginning?”
How does anyone know? We don’t. Instead, I’m here quietly at my table as I’ve been so many days thinking and writing and dreaming of what’s to come. And I suppose the plan is to keep doing just that. But instead of small steps backward toward the routine of the past, I’m practicing small steps forward into the possibility of the future. Yes, write the email, yes make the phone call, yes, dream the dream and live today like it’s coming true.
The dream. The moment. It’s happening. Thank you to everyone for walking alongside me for the whole dang thing. No matter if it’s the beginning or the end, we’ve lots to celebrate.