Don't worry, this blog is not full of hazards, at least not for visitors. Since this is my first blog, it feels more perilous to me than anyone else. However that is not the reason. The name has come from my artistic creations for which this blog is created (though I may end up posting other things as time goes on). For most of my life, or at least my young life when everything seemed possible, I thought of myself as an artist, and though in reality my creative juices have taken root in YA novels, I still feel like an artist deep down. I still draw and more often than not my doodling takes the form of fantastic buildings or cities. I don't know why I do this. It's either a rut or a bit of an obsession. Anyway, people seem to enjoy them and I have decided to find an outlet and am starting with this blog. Oh yeah, by the way, my construction methods are a little suspect, creating sometimes cozy but perilous structures.
There is a larger reason that I settled on this title instead of something like Precarious Palaces or Artful Architecture. Though it is not necessarily an original idea, I am convinced that humans crave peril. My husband and I started our own business about five years ago. It has ballooned into two huge endeavors. The first is a piano store, PianoForte Chicago, the other is a not-for-profit, PianoForte Foundation. Both have been rewarding in their own ways but they have also provided their fair share of perils. Why do we voluntarily quit our comfortable life for something so risky. In our case, it wasn't the idea of riches or glory. I am probably too close to be able to identify the reasons objectively but I can identify what makes us feel good about what we have done.
First, the peril makes us push ourselves to find the best we can be and do. It also exposes our inadequacies, by the way. But, though we have failures, the successes are sweet. It also makes me, and I think my husband as well, feel very alive. Struggle is healthy, and peril makes struggle necessary.
There is also the satisfaction of sharing what we have done with others. Finding people who appreciate our efforts makes it seem worthwhile. There is a joy in that connection. It is similar to when I imagine someone reading my words or looking at my art.
There is of course another satisfaction that comes from our work, that of creation. I also firmly believe that we all need to create. Starting a business is like writing a novel in so many ways. It teaches you about yourself: the good and the bad. The project is constantly being perfected and revised. In the end, you realize there is never an end but always a new challenge.So, thanks for reading, if you have gotten this far. Now I will work on the posting of pictures--my next challenge. I guess doing a blog is a bit like starting a business or writing a novel.
