You don’t need to be a creative to be inspired by “An Open Letter to the Next Generation of Artists,” from jazz legends Herbie Hancock and (the recently departed) Wayne Shorter. “While this letter is written with an artistic audience in mind,” they say, “these thoughts transcend professional boundaries and apply to all people.”
Below is a condensed version of their letter. Read the full statement here.
[We] live in a time of great confusion and pain. As an artist, creator and dreamer of this world, we ask you not to be discouraged by what you see but to use your own lives, and by extension your art, as vehicles for the construction of peace.
AWAKEN TO YOUR HUMANITY
. . . Focus your energy on becoming the best human you can be. . . . Through the process you’ll tap into a wealth of inspiration rooted in the complexity and curiosity of what it means to simply exist on this planet.
EMBRACE AND CONQUER THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
The world needs new pathways. Don’t allow yourself to be hijacked by common rhetoric or false beliefs and illusions about how life should be lived. . . .
WELCOME THE UNKNOWN
The unknown necessitates a moment-to-moment improvisation or creative process . . . Every relationship, obstacle, interaction, etc. is a rehearsal for the next adventure in life.
UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF OBSTACLES
There is no such thing as failure. What you perceive as failure is really a new opportunity, a new hand of cards, or a new canvas to create upon.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO INTERACT WITH THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU
. . . We can never have peace if we cannot understand the pain in each other’s hearts. The more we interact, the more we will come to realize that our humanity transcends all differences.
STRIVE TO CREATE AGENDA-FREE DIALOGUE
. . . Ignite dialogue about the mystery of us.
BE WARY OF EGO
. . . Creativity cannot flow when only the ego is served.
APPRECIATE THE GENERATION THAT WALKED BEFORE YOU
Your elders . . . are a source of wealth in the form of wisdom.
LIVE IN A STATE OF CONSTANT WONDER
As we accumulate years, parts of our imagination tend to dull. Whether from sadness, prolonged struggle, or social conditioning, somewhere along the way people forget how to tap into the inherent magic that exists within our minds. . . . Treasure and nurture your [imagination] and you’ll always find yourself on the precipice of discovery.
(My thanks to Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.)
The Gentle Nudge
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So many wisdom gems there 👌🏻
Wonderful!