Dear Friends...

Dear Friends -

Part of the world was on fire yesterday. Again.

I chose not to write about it straight away because this isn’t a news or current affairs site and I’m trying to answer questions that look towards the future rather than dwell in the past.

I don’t mean to trivialise my outrage, or ignore the pain, frustration and anxiety being felt by many of you. Trauma doesn’t disappear just because you ignore it.

I sat in front of the television watching what was happening and trying to make sense of it. Hours passed before I realised that the news of the day had distracted me from my intentions for the week, and I decided it was time to get back to work.

I’m not an ostrich with my head in the sand. I’m not denying the truth of what I learned yesterday. But sitting on the sofa staring at the news isn’t going to get me any closer to creating the world I want to live in.

That requires me to do my work like a professional. If I was a grocer, I’d open my store. If I was a heart surgeon, I’d show up for surgery.

In my work, I have the good fortune of being able to adapt and grow with every new input. The words I share today don’t ignore the reality of the world today, they are informed by it.

I don’t pretend you’re not disturbed by these events, but I know that you an artist and my job is to protect and nurture the health of your creative heart, and I take that responsibility as seriously as any surgeon.

I encourage you to open up, even though it might seem easier to shut down.

And go to work like a professional, informed and motivated by what you know to be true, so that together we can create the world that we believe in.

Yours in hope and possibility,

Matthew.