You don't have to be sad to be an artist

I was talking to my friend Thea yesterday about how arty people always seem to be sad. The worse ones are those who perpetuate the stereotype and wallow in their self pity as some kind of artistic badge. I admit that i used to be one of these people, but it couldn't be more opposite now. I believe the key to energy and creativity is happiness, stability and peace of mind. I crave for stability and positivity whereas i used to wear my sad sack attitude as some kind of 'real writer' green card. Chain smoking and being totally deeeeeep and shitttt. It's such a painfully lame thing to do. Sincerest apologies.

When i listen to Sad girl by Lana Del Rey, I think to myself, " She loves to wallow in that saddo artist thing". She does it well too. The song is melodramatic, romantic and painfully self reflective. Even though I love listening to it on my sad days, my statement is clear. I wish i wasn't this sad sack and i could be stable and positive because that's when my writing is the least whingey, least indulgent and least shit. However, things get complicated here. Although i 100% believe in being a normal person with normal feelings who can also call themselves a writer, i'm not.
I'm in touch with my emotions on an uncomfortable level and can't find a full time job because i have too much personality. It's been said once and again and I'm duly noting this little thing in my next draft of my CV ( Thanks Thea x )

The sad artist is a profile that's become engrained in our culture simply because it's SO common. It's so common that you've got to stop and think, " Is there some deeper truth to being a saddo and being a writer/musician/artist?". Everybody i know who is involved in the arts is sad or has been sad or unconventionally emotional. And although everybody gets like that, THE KIND OF SADNESS AND EXPERIENCES MY ARTIST FRIENDS HAVE ARE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE. I know what i'm about to say is really egotistical, but my friends, the arty girls and boys, those who write or sing or paint are kind of on another level. When i compare them to ' average ' people, they are too different to deny.

You don't have to be sad in order to be an authentic arty person. In fact, i wish i wasn't sad or jaded or constantly pursuing the truth and the heart of things. It's tiring, taxing and a thankless task. In the nature of my identity, this sort of thirst is glowingly imminent though, and that is why the way i am. But far out, i wish i wasn't. You can be a footy player and arty and you're no less of a real arty person. You can be an accountant and a painter ( Good mix, you get to afford things and be creative ). You can be a wrestler and recite poetry in your spare time.
You do not have to be 40 kg, cynical, sarcastic and in bed all the time crying. You really don't.