When in doubt, take poetry

"What would you do if you could do anything you wanted to," asks James Martin, Jesuit Priest and author of The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything in this brief conversation.

When at Wharton School studying business, the priest says he shared his desire to study poetry with his advisor, who responded, “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Martin disagreed, went on to study poetry, and says it's what he remembers best from his education.

Of course, there are dozens of "practical" reasons not to pursue poetry. It won't pay the rent or mortgage, after all, and no one at your corporate blah-bla-dey-blah job may give a whit about your affinity for Whitman.

The good news is this: no one needs to care about poetry other than you. And though inspiration may not directly fill your bank account, it will fill your sails. Who knows -- passion may have an even greater, untapped earning potential than that predictable paycheck.

I was extremely fortunate to have parents who understood that it matters less what you study in school -- and matters more that you are passionately engaged with what you are learning. So, you may as well study what interests you; it will teach you how to think, and thinking works best when you care about the subject matter.

When I was studying comparative literature in college, a friend's father badgered me about what I would "do" with such a degree. I went on to create a successful marketing consulting business. When I took a break from that to get my graduate degree in creative writing, he jumped in again to remind me how useless such an education would be in the "real world." I assured this well-meaning man that I'd take care of such unpredictable circumstances by marrying his eldest son and letting him support me...and that was the last I ever heard of my wasted time studying what I loved.

In my experience, when we let love lead, our lives and our work become far less confusing. We don't end up in business school (because we "should") when we are far better suited to teach composition, author books or join a tap dancing troupe. When we trust our passions to steer us where we are intended to go, we may find ourselves in a less prescribed career track. And it may take some exploring to determine exactly how and where we fit. Good thing creative people are good at exploring!

Studying poetry may not lead to your next, big career move. But it just might make you happy. And there's no better compass than happiness.

What would you do if you could do anything you wanted to? When in doubt, take poetry.

Comments

[David]

I'd really like to agree with this, but I chose differently in college and I can't see how I could have avoided it. I was a music major/ theater minor and saw my friends graduating to no-or-little job prospects, unable to support themselves much less a family. I got practical and switched to computer science. I hated it, but I was good at it and could be useful to others. Best? It feeds my wife and children, puts a roof over their heads and shoes on the feet.

Music and theater were very unlikely to do that. I wish I could agree with you. Of course, the "follow your bliss" always has the wanderlust of a soul behind it..but I cannot be blissfully homeless.

Forgive me is this is a downer. I mean well by it. It has been a lifetime of painful lessons to this point.

[Sage Cohen]

Hi David,

I appreciate you weighing in. And I wish you could agree with me, too. I am not ever suggesting that anyone be blissfully homeless; Im far too practical for that. Theres nothing blissful about homelessness in my book. But I do believe that when we make a long-term commitment to what is true for us, no matter what work we must do in the meanwhile, we keep the pilot light of our soul alive. I have been doing work I dont love for the past 20 years, but Ive also demanded that my life accommodate what I need to survive in the margins: writing. Ive lost sleep and friends over it, but Ive kept at it. And little by little by little, the margins are squeezing out the middle. I wonder what would happen if you returned to music/theater right now, in some small way (if you arent already doing so), to see what is waiting for you there? Bliss could always be a fun side trip, dont you think? : )

Heres hoping there are some healing lessons along the way, as well.

All my best,
Sage

[David]

In a way I have. Poetry has allowed me to revisit some of this. I'm fine with what it has become. I'm writing short stories and even started a novel. I sing at Church, but I'll probably never get to step on a stage again.

When I get my bliss, it is from when my service is welcomed and thanked by those whom I give it. Though I hope someday to be able to find that bliss without even the thanksgiving.

For me, ultimately, what little art I get to do is love.

[Sage Cohen]

Oh, good. I am glad there is bliss. And love in the making of art. Im not convinced your days on the stage are done! : )

[Stacy Lynn Mar]

Thank you so much for this article!! I, too, have went through that whole ordeal with everyone asking me, "So you're going to get an MFA so you can write poetry, but can't you still write poetry without it and not have to waste your time and money?"

In addition to reminding them that there's much I can do with that MFA (including teaching college level courses) I also have to defend my love of poetry and literature.

Since when has one's passion, gift, and innate direction lost it's proper place? I once had a literature professor tell me, "Find what it is you are good at and find a way to make a living from it." So, poetry isn't going to make you rich, not money-wise, anyway. But it does give something the eye can't see: spiritual awakening, a likeness to all mankind, and happiness.

I love words. I collect them, I write them, I live poetry. For that I feel I'm a better person, and a much more bearable person than if I spent my life and my free time doing something I hate.

[dale]

There's always some of both, isn't there? I was a computer programmer, like David, for twelve years. I mostly hated it, especially towards the end, but there *were* parts of it I loved. Occasionally you come up with an algorithm so elegant it just sings.

Now that I'm supposedly following my bliss, doing massage therapy -- which I genuinely do love -- there's still parts I hate. Filling out insurance forms & making sure my SOAP charts jump through their hoops, instead of making genuine scientific records out of them, for instance.

I don't really regret any of my career choices. They all made sense at the time. But you do have to watch out for them taking on a life of their own. It made sense to be a programmer when my single income was taking care of four people, but I was damned if I'd keep on doing it when the kids were grown :-)

[Sage Cohen]

Yes, Dale!

Occasionally
you come up with an algorithm so elegant it just sings.

That is my experience, too...thank you for saying this so beautifully.

[Sage Cohen]

I wonder if the new wisdom should be: Find what you love, and find a way to make a living. Dont let either steal from the other. Period.

Its true that the minute our passion becomes our career, all kinds of complications can limit our pleasure and our freedom.

The question, for me, is how do we give ourselves permission to be free, to be connected to what we love most, and to be prosperous along the way?

[Joyce Ellen Davis]

Great article, great comments!

[Stacy Lynn Mar]

Everyone's comments have got me to thinking. Most poets, script writers, and independent film-makers I know have a 'second job.' Meaning...they work at something that's, perhaps, not as fulfilling (and I am guilty of this as well) as their day job, and in their 'off' time they do what they love.

So then we have the ability to make a living and be responsible, but also indulge in our guilty pleasure (which for me is poetry).

[Sage Cohen]

A life that allows for and enables what we love: paradise!

[louis vuitton]

Agree with Landlord sit.Various of online games provided are dynamic sense and free indefinitely.We are looking forward to you to here share the experience of
exciting game competition!