What Else?

“Each year, I tell myself, ‘What are you gonna give this year? The consistency of dancing? Yes, but what else are you giving me?’ What else can I push myself to do? What can I do better that I didn’t do so good last year? It’s really being more vulnerable, too. What else can you do?

I’d rather almost fall but giving my all – which.. I don’t like to fall. That’s where the technique gotta kick in. But what else can I do besides just technique? ‘Cause it can be so boring.

The both [technique and artistry], to me, are really just as important. Some people just care about the technique, but then it’s like… there’s nothing else. Nothing. No depth, no weight in anything. But to me, both are just important.”

Linda Celeste Sims – Photo by Andrew Eccles

Just last week, I applied Linda’s words to more than just dance. But let’s start with dance.

You’ve mastered technique. Your arabesque is clean and your pirouette may be the most beautiful thing anyone has ever seen. But what else are you giving me? Where’s the depth? Where’s the love? The emotion? What are you giving me besides a pristine développé? How are you turning dance from technique to artistry?

You are an amazing soccer player, basketball player, tennis player, whatever. Your athleticism is great. You score goals. Your defense is powerful. Your stroke is beautiful. You’re the best. But what else are you giving me? Where is the passion? Where is the excitement? What else are you giving me besides athleticism? How are you turning the sport into an art form?

You’re a student. College, high school, graduate school, middle school, law school, medical school… wherever. You do the work and you do it well. You read the assignments, you turn in the papers, and you study for the tests. But what else are you giving me? Where’s the extra credit? The extra reading? The studying of material not on the tests? What else? School started for me today. My first class didn’t start until 1:00 PM, but I got up at 5:00 AM. And I’m getting up at 5:00 tomorrow.. and the next day. Why? Because I’m giving something else. I’m turning my student-ness* into an art form. How are you turning from a student to an artist?

Perhaps you’re a janitor, waiter, writer, surgeon, lawyer, or something in between. You mop the floors. You serve the food. You stain papers with ink. You cut bodies and save lives. You litigate. You do your job well. But what else are you giving me? Apart from clean floors, timely service, words on paper, stitches, and trial victories, what else are you giving me? How are you turning your job into art? How are you becoming an artist with a mop, a plate, a pen, a scalpel, or a legal pad? Where’s your artistry?

Maybe you’re a Christian. You go to church. You know the hymns. You’ve memorized a fair share of memory verses. But what else are you giving me? Or rather, Him? Where’s your passion for the Gospel? Where’s your desire to share your faith? Where is your love for Christ? How deep is your relationship with God? If I took away the hymns, the memory verses, and the church services, would there be any depth still? Where is your artistry in Christianity?

I know that was kind of a random ramble of examples, but I really just want you to see how applicable Linda’s words can be for so many areas of life. I apologize for the lack of eloquence. I simply hope the point got across.

I want you to turn whatever you’re doing into an art form. Today.

You ARE an artist, so… what else?

*Not a word.