Fanning the Flame: Keeping Your Inner Light Alive

One of my favorite things to do is walk on a trail near my house while listening to a podcast. Today’s was a doozy.

Today, I went for a 3-mile walk and was listening to Tetragrammaton, a podcast hosted by Rick Rubin. He was interviewing Bernard MacMahon, a filmmaker who made the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin that's on Netflix right now.

I'm going to admit something here, that I find bizarre and somewhat embarrassing --but I discovered the genius of Led Zeppelin about 10 years ago.

How is it possible that even though I'd heard Led Zeppelin on the radio many times as a kid, that I'd never really HEARD them until I was in my 40's?!?

When I discovered Robert Plant, again, in my 40's, I watched every YouTube video about Led Zeppelin that was available, over and over again.

I discovered Robert Plant for myself when he made the album Rising Sand with Allison Krauss.

I loved the song Gone, Gone, Gone.

And that started me down the rabbit hole that is Robert Plant which led me to Led Zeppelin and the amazing music they produced when they found each other so young.

While I was listening to Rick and Bernard talk about the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin, I had to watch it, and it's really, really good.

The thing that stuck with me from today's interview though, was the discussion they had regarding the light that we all have when we are children, and how important it is to not have the world extinguish it as we get older.

And that got me to thinking about my own light.

It's funny. As I was thinking about all the things I've been interested in over the course of my life, they have all come together in my work as an artist in some form or fashion.

I was a drummer as a kid. I use drumming in a way when I hammer metal now. I hold my hammer the same way I held my drumsticks.

I loved to write as a kid. I write here, and on my website, and in my marketing materials and the various magazine articles I've written over the years teaching others how to make jewelry.

I loved to draw as a kid. I rediscovered my love of drawing and painting when my parents died, which led to the greeting card line I have now.

I loved spending time by myself as a kid, exploring my world creatively, daydreaming and playing. I do that everyday in my studio and on my walks through the woods.

After my foul mood yesterday, today I realized just how incredibly blessed I am that I didn't let the world extinguish my light.

I've won in so many areas of my life, but being able to still see my inner light is the biggest win of all.

And I will continue to fan that flame, daily, hourly and by the minute for as long as I am able.

I hope that you still see your own inner light, and that you fan that flame even if it's just an ember right now.

That's what we are here to do...spread our light that God gifted us with and don't let the bastards blow it out.

Cheers.

Random fact about me: My favorite dessert is Carrot cake, because of that icing.