The Value of Vulnerability
“If you lose your vulnerability, you lose your capacity to be an artist” — wise words from actor Julianna McCarthy. To this, I’ll add that without vulnerability, we lose our capacity for all kinds of joy in life.
My most recent experience with vulnerability, which stretched me beyond my comfort zone (of course, that’s what vulnerability does) was attending a week-long artist camp at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Pennsylvania. For decades I’d had a lingering desire to explore my artistic side, but hadn’t taken much time to indulge it. Previous excuses had seemed valid — life was too busy, there were plenty of other things (mostly athletic endeavors) in which I was interested. Sitting still long enough to create wasn’t in my wheelhouse.
Yet after a couple of drawing classes over recent years, I felt ready for more. I went into this experience aware that I’m at the beginning of my artistic journey. I certainly hadn’t anticipated being in the company of incredibly talented artists, including a professional and several certified botanical illustrators. My classmates were so advanced that the teacher decided that the week would be ‘open studio’ — aka ‘do your own thing, ask if you need help’.
Feeling like an imposter, I continually reminded myself that I was there to learn. Being open to this level of vulnerability was challenging, but my desire to learn outweighed my desire to hide in the background or forgo artistic learning all together. And I found that the more open and vulnerable I was, the more I connected with the other artists in the room. They were generous and kind and taught me so much about technique and tools. By the end of the week, I began to feel like I belonged there, like we all did.
On the last workshop day, a group of children visited our studio for a tour, and to invite us to their own art show. A six-year-old stopped at my table and took in my bumble bee, which I thought was nearly complete. She remarked, “that’s really cool how right now it just looks like a drawing, but when you keep working on it, it’ll look like a real bee”.
I’m still laughing over that! I consider it one of many gems I’ve brought home from my week at art camp. Without a willingness to feel vulnerable, I would have missed so much. It’s only with vulnerability, and the compassion needed to allow ourselves to grow, to learn, to stretch outside our comfort zones, that we can build our capacity to do anything in life.
Yoga classes will resume on September 8th. If you’ve held yourself back from trying a class, or from returning from a hiatus, because you don’t think you’re fit enough, flexible enough, or too injured, consider the option of allowing vulnerability and compassion to guide you… gently to your mat.
