Funk & Foul Ups

Our “Crazy Dreams” Creativity Camp has me thinking… We’ll explore the lives of folks who changed the world in myriad ways: politics, visual arts, music, literature, computing. Some of these crazy dreamers had harsh life experiences. All made their fair share of foul ups.

So before I encourage our campers to accept themselves, warts and all, I’ll try to do the same. I’ll remind myself that I was not put here to fly serenely above all life’s messiness. I’m here to dig in, which means I’ll get messy, and sometimes I’ll make a mess.

Cornell West calls the messiness of life “funk.” I’m covered in funk most of the time. And messy as it is, painful as it is, I’ll take it to soaring unscathed above the funk. Funk is primordial ooze of creativity; funk is life. So I’ll challenge our campers to dream crazy big, and then then to dig in and live their dreams. ‘Cause that’s what crazy dreamers do.

What are your thoughts on funk and foul ups? Share your insights.