- Oct 20, 2013
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At first glance, many folks would think I must be some kind of narcisstic, conceited loon, to make such a proclamation. With a deeper examination of the word "genius" however, a different scenario begins to unfold.
For years, Thomas Edison, the holder of 1,000 patents for various inventions, including, in 1879, the first really practical electric light bulb, was often referred to as a "genius" by his contemporaries. Edison, a lifelong workaholic, responded to these well-meaning admirers by saying "Genius is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration."
IOW, if you put in the time and effort, to enough of a quantity degree, you also could attain genius level at something. With 36 items in my art gallery (mostly paintings) people look at these and say "Oh, I could never do that. I can't draw". But they never stopped to think that just writing words with pen or pencil is drawing. You don't make the letters and words appear by magic. You draw them. Both printing writing, and writing in script, is drawing.
Some of those people who say "I can't draw", have very elaborate and downright grandiose signatures. If they can do that, they could do a lot with a paint brush and a canvas. The only difference as far as painting is concerned, is that I do it, and they don't. Almost everybody could do what I've done (over 100 paintings & drawings), they just don't put in the time & effort. And they may not have lived as long as me (77 years), or have been retired for 15 years with plenty of free time on my hands.
About the same thing applies to poetry & songwriting, I have over 100 of these in my collection, but again, it's not that hard, it's more a matter of just doing it, Like Woody Allen once said > "90% of life is just showing up."
In music, I get the genius label sometimes at parties when people hear me play the 5 musical instruments I play (10 videos of these in my YouTube channel). But just as in art and poetry, it's a matter of "perspiration" (consistent hard work), more so than "inspiration" (being a special person"
There are many geniuses in life beside inventors, artists and musicians. People who do scientific research and come up with cures for diseases. People who design and build tall buildings, with all the complexities and work that involves. etc etc. Baseball players like Ty Cobb and Stan Musial were well known in their time, for spending extraordinary amounts of time doing batting practice. The result were an incredible number of batting championships, and amazingly high lifetime batting averages.
So I may get the moniker "genius", for my music playing, poems, and artwork, but it's primarily just from a long time of DOING IT, and I welcome others to join me, and for whatever it may be that you like, just DO IT, and keep doing it, and don't give up on it.
For years, Thomas Edison, the holder of 1,000 patents for various inventions, including, in 1879, the first really practical electric light bulb, was often referred to as a "genius" by his contemporaries. Edison, a lifelong workaholic, responded to these well-meaning admirers by saying "Genius is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration."
IOW, if you put in the time and effort, to enough of a quantity degree, you also could attain genius level at something. With 36 items in my art gallery (mostly paintings) people look at these and say "Oh, I could never do that. I can't draw". But they never stopped to think that just writing words with pen or pencil is drawing. You don't make the letters and words appear by magic. You draw them. Both printing writing, and writing in script, is drawing.
Some of those people who say "I can't draw", have very elaborate and downright grandiose signatures. If they can do that, they could do a lot with a paint brush and a canvas. The only difference as far as painting is concerned, is that I do it, and they don't. Almost everybody could do what I've done (over 100 paintings & drawings), they just don't put in the time & effort. And they may not have lived as long as me (77 years), or have been retired for 15 years with plenty of free time on my hands.
About the same thing applies to poetry & songwriting, I have over 100 of these in my collection, but again, it's not that hard, it's more a matter of just doing it, Like Woody Allen once said > "90% of life is just showing up."
In music, I get the genius label sometimes at parties when people hear me play the 5 musical instruments I play (10 videos of these in my YouTube channel). But just as in art and poetry, it's a matter of "perspiration" (consistent hard work), more so than "inspiration" (being a special person"
There are many geniuses in life beside inventors, artists and musicians. People who do scientific research and come up with cures for diseases. People who design and build tall buildings, with all the complexities and work that involves. etc etc. Baseball players like Ty Cobb and Stan Musial were well known in their time, for spending extraordinary amounts of time doing batting practice. The result were an incredible number of batting championships, and amazingly high lifetime batting averages.
So I may get the moniker "genius", for my music playing, poems, and artwork, but it's primarily just from a long time of DOING IT, and I welcome others to join me, and for whatever it may be that you like, just DO IT, and keep doing it, and don't give up on it.
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