Commentary by Troy Headrick
I have a lot in common with David, musician and subject of this short
documentary by Parisa. For example, we both have eye diseases. In my case, I was diagnosed with a dry form of Macular Degeneration and will eventually lose a lot (if not all) of my central vision. He also left his place of birth and “found himself” abroad. That happened to me, too, when I left the United States and lived in various locales overseas.
Did you notice how he lit up when he referred to himself as a “musical artist” a little more than two minutes into the video? He says, just a bit later, that to make music a person has to be “crazy enough to dare to try out things.” He’s absolutely right. Creativity—in all its forms—is an act of daring. I’m currently writing this commentary and will share it with others. That’s an act of daring, an act of leaving myself exposed and vulnerable. I am my words, and my words are me, just as David is his music. It’s easier to not write and remain hidden. It’s safer to remain silent. The silent person is not noticed and therefore not judged. David doesn’t have to share his sounds with audiences. What if they don’t like his music? Has he failed? Is it possible to “fail” when self-expression is the point?
And if you need inspiration for overcoming the critical voice within and moving on, I recommend How to Recover From a Bad Post, written by Wynne Leon.
This post was originally posted on my blog.