Reflections Ep. 21

Why Not You?

We hear it again and again from people who have succeeded in their art form in some way or won a certain amount of acclaim for their work, “Why Me?”

There are so many talented people out there and a lot of times, if we let our brains get the best of us, we wonder “Do I really deserve this? Was this just a fluke? Am I worthy of this acclaim and attention?” 

Ashlee Haze experienced this common experience of self-doubt as her poetry went viral and she was suddenly thrown into the limelight. There’s nothing like Missy Elliott showing up at your door telling you she enjoyed the poem you wrote about her influence on your life out of the blue.

The rush of having to decide to quit her government job to go on tour to spit poetry is something few people experience. The confusion of finally “Making it” in some way, but not being prepared for it.

“WHY NOT YOU? And if not you, who would you delegate it to?”

Her coach helped her see the truth. If it’s not us, it will be someone else, so why not you?

There is a certain guilt that unfortunately comes with fame. And the main cure is GRATITUDE. 

Ashlee says the best thing she ever learned was how to be thankful. 

Another opportunity. Thank you. Another open door. Thank you. Another poem. Thank you. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Gratefulness opens us up to the possibility of more. Why not me? Why not this poem? Why not now? 

“I just kept saying thank you.”

And to this day Ashlee Haze continues to say it. On her podcast. With her production agency. With her upcoming rap album. Thank you. 

Try it next time  you get a poem out of thin air, “Thank you.” When you meet your people you’ve been waiting to meet, “Thank you.” When you get that book finally written, “Thank you.” 

Thankfulness opens us up to accepting the possibility of expansion in our work and the love of why we do what we do. It gives us more space to carry the weight of our art, which in itself is a big deal. 

To be an artist means we have a responsibility to share our work. To say something into the vastness. To communicate what hasn’t been communicated. To speak to issues that are overlooked and neglected. To imagine new worlds and ways of being. 

It can be a heavy burden and we can do it with grace and thankfulness.

That is our job and this is our calling. 

And with every new revelation, we say “Thank you.”