In the pervading values of our time, “worthwhile” always refers to monetary worth, and the quality of a created thing is almost always judged by its commercial viability – but such thinking is, of course, a recipe for cultural insanity and shallowness. As Sven Birkerts remarks in The Gutenberg Elegies, “The dollar is betting, as it always does, against the soul.” (More on Birkerts and his book soon).

And one combats the commodity-mindset whenever one undertakes an activity, or creates a thing, for pure pleasure alone. Surely passion is more important than profit, wonder of more “worth” than marketability. As children know intuitively, the pleasure of a process is itself often the best reward. The so-called result is less important. And we adults stand to gain immeasurable fulfillment by holding onto that childlike clarity.

Please stick around through the summer, as I further explore Creativity Vs. Commerce
(Your blog is terrific, by the way. We’ve proudly added it to our blogroll.)

~Mark

The best days are the ones where I get to create my own masterpieces with them! Like the kids, I’ve learned to happily toss the finished product, satisfied with the experience. The hard part is translating this attitude into more areas of life.