This is how things happen to me and quite regularly it turns out. I find it wonderful. So wonderful that I thought I’d share the story.
One of my all time favorite movies is The Legend of Bagger Vance, directed by Robert Redford and starring Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Jack Lemon. It is ostensively a golf movie but it is in fact a movie about redemption and finding one’s authentic place in this world-a lesson that applies to creative souls as well as those looking for a better life.
One of my great friends Brenda’s favorite writers is a fellow named Steven Pressfield. He has written several well known books including The Tides of War and Gates of Fire and he is an active blogger with really good insights on the creative process. Brenda, being the avid reader that she is had found Steven Pressfield and read the Legend of Bagger Vance but hadn’t seen the movie. She also discovered his book, The War of Art, and sent it to me. I read the book, didn’t know who Steven Pressfield was but loved the book and it’s message.
Another great friend of mine, Lisa, knows the book, The War of Art very well- considers it “her Bible” but had never seen nor heard of The Legend of Bagger Vance, the movie or the book. When she was struggling artistically recently Brenda told her that I was going to ‘Bagger Vance’ her. Being quite alarmed at that bit of news (quite justifiably) she looked up Bagger Vance and found it was a movie but made no connection to her favorite book, The War of Art.
So now I know who Steven Pressfield is and I go to his blog every wednesday to read his most recent posts. Brenda, whenever she finds a quiet moment will get the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance and appreciate Robert Redford’s telling of the story. Lisa, having survived the trauma of being Bagger Vanced, is also going to get the movie and, like me, will read Pressfield’s blog every wednesday.
So what does this have to do with you? Well if three professional photographers all think that what Steven Pressfield writes is worth reading, especially The War of Art, and that the movie version of his book, The Legend of Bagger Vance, is worth watching then I would think it might be of interest to you! I am not going to tell you why it might be of interest to you. That is for you to figure out for yourself.
I don’t recommend many writers or books or movies so when I do it’s likely a keeper. Trust me on this- follow through and discover the words and insights of Steven Pressfield. You can thank me later!