Inspiration is a funny thing because it is so slippery. You can find it anywhere but you cannot always explain why it speaks to you. I am easily inspired because I am right brained person. I organize information by making connections between things.
For example, I remember that Derek Parfit is trying to work out a perfect school of morality – a universal moral law – because of the connections between parfit and perfect.
I don’t remember numbers or other symbols well. In fact I generally don’t commit them to memory at all.
If I need to remember how many people were in the room last night I have to recall the picture in my mind, sitting each person where he or she was. I have trouble explaining why I do things until after they are done because much of my knowledge is intuitive.
When my visual memory fails, I get a feeling, this sensorial memory, which is frustrating because it’s hard to explain to other people.
But, this kind of memory makes it easier for me to explain things to children in a way that leaves their dignity intact because it’s easier for me to inhabit another reality, to feel my way around. I don’t have to come with my own ideas. I’m very happy to play with yours.
Yet, this makes me a very very bad meeting attendant because I don’t really learn anything by ingesting random facts step-by-step. I need to connect the dots into various designs and that, to me, is reality. I learn best when I can see demonstrable proof that such facts produce a coherent reality, a coherent whole. In order words, show it to me, please!
The more connections a thing makes in my mind, the stronger it is in my memory, the more it inspires me.
In June, I read a short review of Ximena Sariñana’s new CD in Vogue Magazine. Then three months later, in a play of events unrelated to the artist or Vogue, I saw onewayoranother against this wall. I recalled the album cover. I was like the kid who’s obsessed with connect-the-dot drawings. I had to take the picture of her right away!
Now, my memory of that album cover is linked to messy hair. The fact that wall is at the Museum of the Americas where I saw a Mexican exhibit will help me remember that Sariñana is from Mexico. One of her songs, Shine Down, has sound effects reminiscent of the flap of insects’ wings, which reminds me of Mexico again. Grasshoppers and other insects are culinary delicacies in Mexican cuisine. And so on, so on. Until I fall asleep.
Failing to communicate
Will it seem like
I’m in half-hearted…
Sorry if my words
Hurt You
Wish I knew the time
To lie to you
Keep in mind I’m not here
I’m from a different world…
Ximena Sariñana is a good songwriter but she’s crossing over from Spanish to English and her self-title new album is squarely in the Pop box. The song Different (video) sounds like what one might expect an immigrant export to feel like in a new land.
The album seems to document a certain apprehension about the risk she’s taking on. Will she click with her new listeners? Will she feel at home in her environment? The song “Shine Down” is about losing one’s footing and confusion. When I see her interviews, she reminds me of Ellen Page, someone who is masterful at what their craft, but who does not handle cameras well in her personal space. She seems like a quiet presence in real life but her sound gives me a great buzz when I feel tired.
Have a great Thursday, Everyone! Seek Inspiration. Share Inspiration! Tell us a random moment of inspiration you’ve had in the Comments below! And, if this post inspired you, please share it with others!
