Aestheticians, Questions, and the Value of Sharing

On sharing 

“But if I give it away,” asked squirrel, “won’t there be less?” 

Crow scratched her head before responding, “Or, will there be more?”

Thoughts

Years ago, when I was just starting out, I messaged a prominent mobile maker with a couple of questions.

Their response was, er, less than friendly.

There were thinly masked threats. And, oh my, so-much-aggression.

My seemingly innocent questions opened a pandora’s box – mostly filled with that artist’s fears, I think.

And, as so often happens with fear, it was repackaged as anger.

There was also scarcity that said, “If I tell you, I will no longer be.”

I once knew an aesthetician who said she hated teaching others her techniques.

“If I show them,” she explained, “why would anybody come to me?”

On one level I understood: no one wants to “give away all their secrets,” especially those that are hard earned.

Yet, on another level, I felt (and feel) the possibility for something else:

“If I *share* with you, we – the art, the you, the me, the us – can be so much more.”

Years later, after I’d established myself, I decided I would always do my best to answer any mobile-making questions I received.

I made how-to videos on YouTube. I shared openly about my materials and techniques. And wrote back and forth with many would-be mobile makers around the world.  

I’m proud to say a number of the folks I’ve worked with have gone on to become successful mobile makers themselves.

Has their success somehow diminished me? Did offering them a helping hand hurt me?

Quite the opposite, of course.

I’m grateful to those who have reached out, and heartened by their curiosity and courage.

To ask, to learn, to do, to learn again.

This is inspiration. This is the basis for community.

Where can you share more of your unique wisdom in the world today?