He went to college because that’s what you do when you’re 17, though he didn’t really have a plan. After six months, he still didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life and wasn’t sure the expensive college was going to help him get there, anyway. So he dropped out.
Dropping out gave him the opportunity to drop in on classes that he was actually interested in rather than continue on with the required course work. He saw hand calligraphed posters all over campus and he wanted to take a class to learn how to do that himself. In his own words:
“I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating. None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac … If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do.”
—Steve Jobs, from his Stanford commencement address
Sometimes pro and con lists aren’t the best way to make a decision. Sometimes the choice that makes the most impact will be the one that is also the most fun. We can’t always explain why we are drawn to a certain song, a particular hobby, a quirky group of people. As we prepare to open the bathroom door, know that you may be asked to be impractical on your journey to change the world. You might not be able to make sense of where you are headed.
Are you willing to trust your design? What if art, beauty, interest and fascination were not only enough, but necessary?
Read 31 Days to Change the World from the beginning.
Inspiring words indeed, Emily. You know first-hand that creative types have to have an outlet or we can go nuts! I love a new project and challenging myself to create something of value out of nothing. But I get frustrated that sometimes I’m the only one who sees my art, understands and appreciates it. Your series is challenging me to go further, to really ask myself if I want to. Sometimes I wish I could just see a sign or billboard for what it is and not recognize and name the fonts, notice the color combinations or the layout! Or see a rock as a rock and not see the colors running thru it, the shape and smoothness of it. Just see a rock. And I ask myself all the time why I have to see more and to what end? Sigh. I will be here reading every one of your posts in this series!
I always loved the part of the Meyer-Briggs personalty description for INFP, The Idealist – “logic is optional for you.” Impracticality can be so inspiring!!! Loved this post. Especially, “Sometimes the choice that makes the most impact will be the one that is also the most fun.” Thank goodness for that!
THANK YOU so very much this reminder today…i really needed it as it feels my hubby and I are living really impractically!
Oh my. Yes, He is asking me to be impractical in my journey. I’ve fought it for almost 40 years and I’m finally, with your help, realizing I can come out from under the sink. No matter what.
Emily, I just stole a few minutes after worshiping via LiveStream my home church’s service – 400 miles away. Because we are packing. To move again. 250 miles away. 9 hours from my home church. (We’re 8 hours right now.) Grateful that my husband is looking forward to a new position as a children’s pastor. All that to say…I read day 4 and the words packing jumped off the page. Because as needed as this change is. Starting again is really scary. Even when I know God is good…all the time. And he will never leave me or forsake me. A new state. A new culture. A ‘new’ home. Exciting. Scary. What will God have for me? I’m waiting to find out. And as you have stated, it’s time for me to trust my design. (And my Designer!) And then your words brought me to tears. What if art, beauty, interest and fascination aren’t enough, but necessary? Those words are in my soul. I so want God to reveal what I should do….so that I can bloom my art and interest and fascination with his incredible creation and the beauty that surrounds us and is in all those with whom we brush shoulders.
Inspiring as usual! Love these moments reading your post and visualizing the changes in me and around me. Even when things seem impractical it has a function. Time will tell and I just need to trust the design (path) I’m on. Your series challenges me to really ask myself if I want to. I applaud you for your blog, go here: http://helenkamphuis.blogspot.com/2011/10/gratitude-post-week-40.html
So true. Sometimes we choose to serve the god of reason over the God of the Universe. He has asked our family to do the impractical several times, and I’m so glad that He did. It’s really okay if others think we’re crazy at times or what we do doesn’t make sense because really His opinion is the one that matters most! God bless you!
I love this post! All my life, I’ve worked at jobs I have not liked all that much…some I’ve hated… feeling I have to be responsible. After all, I’m single, have to take care of myself. Feeling it was almost impossible to earn a living at what I love. Having lost my job of 26 years with the same company (literally being pushed out) last year, I’ve been struggling with unemployment, sickness etc. And suddenly, it seems like maybe in a way this time is a gift…that I can dare to believe God will open doors to use the passions He has put in my heart since childhood…and even allow me to earn a living doing them. Your words inspire me in this too… I don’t see the answers yet. But I’m holding on. Believing. Praying for divine appointments…open doors… and ways to shine Him in all my words. Thanks for the uplift!
This is such a beautiful post Emily. Thank you for sharing. The same thing happened to me: going to college, not sure of which direction to take, changing my major dozens of times in the hopes of finding a “responsible” major that would lead me to a “responsible” job. It proved miserable. When I finally allowed myself to choose to study the thing I have loved since birth; design, I started on an exhilarating and wonderful journey that has made me a happier more fulfilled person. It sounds corny, but when we realize that our passions and talents are gifts from God, and that He gives them to us to be USED and explored, it makes it easier to accept that our path may not be the “predictably safe” path that is easier for everyone to accept, and that’s okay!!! Loved this post!!! Thanks again.
I love this, Emily. I’ve learned myself that not all the preparation for adulthood occurs in a college classroom. And I’ll be as equally blessed by that education as I will when I receive my B.A.
So very wise indeed. Belief that creative outlets are impractical, silly, waste of time, can be so distracting that we forget that the beautiful, creative, inspiring and necessary artistic outlets are a GIFT to be thankful for and appreciated.
Be impractical. I have a difficult time with this one. Sometimes reason plants itself firmly in the way of the art, and I don’t always have the courage to pull it up.
well, dear emily, if my heart is any indication, then your series is having the impact you want it to…so thankful for what you bring to the blog world and to me!:}:}:}
It’s not practical to do my girls’ hair into three ponytails, or more. But it makes me think outside the box when they ask so I can do something BOTH of us will enjoy.
This is beautiful and very thought provoking. I’ve been listening to my heart more instead of other people’s rules.
-Jennifer
I’m ready.
Well said! And it’s a challenge, too–to get outside those nasty little boxes we’ve all been living in since kindergarten.
I’m thinking of going to nursing school. I haven’t decided yet. On paper it doesn’t make any sense. None at all. But I can’t get away from it. I try to do other things, but I always come back to it. The things I should do, the ones that make sense, the ones I should be good at , bore me to tears and make me want to run in the other direction. I don’t know if nursing school is in my future, but it’s nice to be reminded that passion doesn’t always have to make sense.
Yes yes yes! I have been so liberated since choosing “crazy” Adoption at 40-something when your three children are practically raised! YES! Accepting my artwork and letting it have value……….