Sometimes other roles in life feel/felt as if to require one to wear costumes other than that which one would prefer to don; what to do? Did/do we take on the mask, dim our light, crumple ourselves to fit into someone else's idea of us? 

People who work in creative fields, I feel, have a responsibility to shuck all constraints of societal expectations, non?  Are we not the either appointed or self-appointed sayers of truth (Or at least our local and vocal versions of it?), illumination, scratching the itches of society and our group consciousness? Expressing the personal because when it comes from the heart, the soul, is that not touching upon the universal?

Who else is going to do that kind of work, willingly? 

No, seriously, most of western society is truly supportive of arts, generally, mostly.  Maybe just the people I hang out with.  But that's one of the most wonderful things about living in Germany; they LOVE their artists.

With Gratitude,

J

*photo courtesy of Berli Berlinski (vielen Dank!) All Rights Reserved.