Eagles and Ducks

May 8, 2025


In a world that rewards conformity, the artist stands apart—soaring like an eagle among ducks. The duck flocks together, moves predictably, and thrives in the safety of sameness. But the eagle? It flies alone, often higher, sometimes in silence, and always with purpose.

And for that, the eagle is often misunderstood.

Burden and Blessing of the Artist’s Path

Artists—whether painters, writers, musicians, or creatives of any kind—are often judged by the mass culture that surrounds them. Their obsession with detail, their long hours in solitude, their refusal to “just get a normal job” all seem baffling to people who have accepted a more conventional path.

But here's the truth: if your soul is lit by passion, if your days are driven by craft rather than calendar, you will be misunderstood. Your drive will be mistaken for arrogance. Your refusal to conform will be labeled as rebellion. Your dreams may even offend people who abandoned their own.

That’s not your problem to fix.

Stop Explaining. Start Doing.

One of the greatest traps for any artist is the temptation to explain why they do what they do. As if their choices need validation from people who wouldn’t walk a single day in their shoes.

Here’s the shift: you don’t owe anyone an explanation.

You don’t need to translate your dreams into language palatable for those who never dared to chase theirs. You don’t need to dumb down your vision so others can feel comfortable around it.

The eagle doesn't explain why it doesn't waddle.

If You Want What They Don’t Have, Do What They Won’t Do

Most people want the outcomes: freedom, expression, recognition, legacy. But they don’t want the process: discipline, solitude, rejection, risk. Artists live in the process. They build quietly while others scroll, they obsess over their work while others look for shortcuts.

You can’t get the rewards of the eagle by living the habits of the duck.

So don’t waste energy trying to fit in. Instead, double down on the things that make you uncommon:

• Say no to distractions.
• Embrace the loneliness of deep work.
  
• Make things that might not be liked, but are true.
  
• Keep showing up when no one claps.
  
• Stay focused when no one understands.

The Artist’s Quiet Power

The irony is, the very people who misunderstand you today may one day admire what you’ve built. But you can’t build for that. You build because you have no choice. Because this is who you are. Because art is your way of breathing.

The duck will never understand the eagle, and it was never supposed to.

So keep flying.