How we miss you Bob Ross! You encouraged us to create our own world, set our own rules, convert our mistakes into happy little strokes of success, be content with what occurs on our palettes. Celebrate our masterpieces!
I’ve always been a big fan of Bob’s message. But also have the notion to step back and survey the individual works of my community. Gathering interpretations of the multitudes, interested and entertained in how visions and definitions are wrought to conform with what is acceptable and pleasing to each singular artist and how that fits in with the bigger picture.
How excellence in running and racing is defined is one such masterwork. There are as many characterizations of success as there are shoes on feet. The bare essence of running is the feel good end of it, we run simply because we feel better when we do it. But how long before we start to measure our own work? Before we start comparing our brush strokes of yesterday to the ones laid today? Before we start looking at our filled canvas and wonder how it stands in relation to all the other works surrounding us. There’s no getting around the subjectivity of our own performances. We like to feel that our efforts possess some degree of unique excellence, that the obstacles we face give a certain credence and particularity to us alone. That pretty much describes the human condition then, the egocentric illusion that what we’ve crafted rises above the norm.
That is why it is so important to incorporate a more global view. To recognize all the excellence and beauty that is before us if we’ll only see it. To admit that the little scene we’ve created for ourselves, while comfy and easily defended, does not represent mankind.
But it must also be acknowledged that our own little painting does indeed contribute to the quilt of life. That each of our strides adds to the mosaic, the harmony, the richness of the world.
So whatever you run for, go out and do it. And take a look around at all the happy little clouds.
Its your world, make it what you want. But don’t forget to keep a keen eye on Reality.
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