Finding Your Howl

"To find our howl we have to pay a price..."

Jonathon Flaum says the price of finding our own howl is as unsettling as death.  Flaum is the author of a story called 'How the Paper Fish Learned to Swim: A Fable about Inspiring Creativity and Bringing New Ideas to Life'.  The premise to this story is that an origami master named Daishini makes an astounding origami fish from one sheet of paper.  He sees that the fish is lonely, so in turn, Daishini creates an entire origami world for him.  The paper fish begs to be released in the ocean.  Daishini doesn't like the idea, but she reluctantly sets her creation free into the ocean despite how she believes the paper fish will be consumed or destroyed in the wild.  To the creator's surprise, the origami fish becomes real and much bigger.  The metaphor for this is that great ideas can become something greater and can outgrow their creators.  The paper fish becoming real and learning how to swim also represents how we can release creativity, inspiration, and innovation in the real world.

The world we live in is full of potential and is a fruitful ground for the basis of strong and innovative ideas.  Why do scientists aim to cure cancer?  Why do college students want to create and inspire?  What was the drive that famous authors had to write their stories to share the world with?  I believe the problem isn't within the potential and the drive; the problem is within the quantity.  See, almost everybody at some point wants to be the next J.K. Rowling, or George Lucas.

Occasionally, this guy. (Quentin Tarantino)

There is a lyric that I think captures the spirit of envisioning an idea and embracing it, then releasing it;
"They heard me singing and they told me to stop; Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock,"

The song is called 'Sprawl II: Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Arcade Fire.
(the rest of the lyrics can be found here. - http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/arcadefire/sprawliimountainsbeyondmountains.html )

The rest of the song is about dreaming and running away from where you grew up, and creating something that you envision, or something that speaks in YOUR voice.  It's truly a wonderful song and I highly recommend it.

But, the song also communicates to you so that you take action.  What are YOU going to do?  In my case, it's putting myself out there so that I can identify my voice with the world of media.  Sure, we all want to be creative, and we all have the internet as a creative output (YouTube, Tumblr, etc.)  However, since we all have the same shot, I am going to let my voice be heard.  The song whispers to me that the world we live in is one big opportunity for you to speak on what you believe in.

Nobody should take that opportunity for granted.