On a path a Michelle Jones type situation

Granted

In September I told you some things I learned while writing my first grant application. Today I received word that I did in fact receive funding based on that application. I wasn’t granted the full amount I asked for but the amount I received is significant enough to really help me take a step forward with this specific project and my photography at large.

After I sent my grant application in I took a hard, critical look at all the materials I had included with my application packet. I tried to review the packet as objectively as I could. In doing so I realized that my sample works were far, far weaker than I would have liked them to have been and that the structure of my project still needs to be edited and fine tuned a bit. I considered those two issues to be large problems that it in all likelihood would prevent me from receiving the grant.That is to say I was completely certain I would not be receiving the grant. So I was of course overjoyed but also genuinely surprised when I received the letter from the foundation today.

There are several layers to my joy. The first, obviously, is that a committee of strangers reviewed my work, my descriptions, my letters of recommendation, etc and came to the conclusion that my work is worthy of their foundation’s financial support. Naturally that is a bit of an ego boost (imagine me channeling Sally Field’s “You like me” speech). On another level though it makes me feel so good to have some confirmation that this thing, this making art and making a life outside of the usual or even expected path is possible. It’s also small bit of validation for those of us who came to our art a bit later in life than others or who took different paths to find our way to this spot, this place, this way of being in our lives.

This is a bit more touchy-feely than I’m normally comfortable being but please indulge me and allow me to say that if you’re one of us, one who knows the corporate path, the 9-5 path or any of the other expected paths isn’t for you have faith that you can make a different kind of life. It will not always be easy, in fact its rather hard and can be quite stressful a lot of the time, but it is so worth it. It’s worth it every single day.

Hey! That is super cool. Congrats. Very much deserved.

I’m so glad you were wrong

I am one of “these people” and right now I am in a very strange period in my life because , now 27years old I decided that I had to finally accept my “weird”, “artistic” nature and I decided to move to another country and go for it. I am full of stress, flirting with insomnia, started smoking again, but in my heart I KNOW that I made the right choice to leave and try to face my fears. I am FILLED with fear. But this new start is MY decision, my FIRST REAL LIFE decision and it seems the only obstacle in the way is…my fear and nothing else. And I am working on it. And I feel that in a few months I will be the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. Let’s see. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you and I ended up writing a speech.. Thank you, really it was a wonderlul post.

Well you’re very welcome. It sounds like you’re well on your way to living the live you want and need to live. That is so awesome. Congratulations on that and continued success to you.

Congratulations. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. I too am one of those people and while I’m still waiting to believe with absolute conviction that I made the right choice to walk out on my job, your success cheers me. I look forward to seeing the project once it’s complete.