I'm going to begin this post with a sweet open declaration- I love my friends and I'm confident I've built for myself the best support system of all time. And if I'm learning anything these days, it is that No love is easy (Alison Malee). The same love that fills us with joy and sends us laughing till our cheeks hurt, that same love, calls us up at 2am to the sound of a body breaking and demands that we reach out our hands to be held on to. 

Lately, I've been faced with the part of love that most of us run away from- the part that calls us to be true to ourselves and the people we care most about. This has proven to be a not-so-easy task, especially because of the fear of how the other person would feel about the truth.

But like Flannery O'Connor said- truth doesn't change according to our ability to stomach it. It stays just as it is until we decide to give it a different narrative.

I am surrounded by creatives and I am constantly thankful for the people I have in my circle to do this life with. My close friend, Phil, is an illustrator and I have great pals who hold dearly to the craft of writing and spoken word poetry. Finding myself in a network like this only means an endless sharing of ideas and first drafts and baby-thoughts about projects that are yet to take form. There's almost always something to be said about what's been put down on the table. 

There are days we go full out to support a project because 1) we believe in its cause 2) it's our friends leading the parade, how can we not be a part of it?

The second reason has, somewhat, always been a shaky concept to me and I want to carefully state here that supporting a cause only because of the people leading it isn't exactly the best and right way to go about rooting for someone's cause. There's the need to ask questions- Is this right? Is this project rooted in line with my value system? Am I willing to sacrifice to champion this cause? 

There's nothing wrong with being a cheerleader, a firm supporter of every idea that's thrown on board. On the contrary, some creatives thrive in the positive reception given to their works. People like to know they're doing a great thing and are on the right path to getting there. Nevertheless, being an insightful cheerleader makes it all the better.

I've heard arguments about the free form of art and how creatives should be allowed to explore the various art forms. I respect that. But beyond structure and basic art rules, is content and yes, there are days we witness gaps in an artist's piece of work and wouldn't be ending the world if we found the right way of pointing out the flaws.

I've had friends hold vigils for the awareness of depression where, after the event, people have suggested the presence of psychologists to create a well-informed safe space. The next vigil that followed had a team of shrinks who engaged folks about how they're feeling. Progress. All because someone spoke up about something better that could be done.

This didn't suddenly make the first session irrelevant or less worthwhile. It only made it an opportunity that made room for growth and isn't that what this life is all about?

In other instances, I've seen poorly-created content being hailed and fiercely promoted. Don't get me wrong. I'm a firm believer in little beginnings. I am completely certain that new ideas have the capacity to blow our minds away. This post is for when there's room for more growth. 

On Twitter, I see tweets about supporting friends' art and business ideas and I'd love so much for us to embrace all the layers of support we've come to know.

Support is from Old French  supporter, from Latin  supportare, from  sub- ‘from below’ +  portare, to ‘carry’.

To carry, to own on their behalf, to make almost your own. To want the best as you would for you. To water. To bear. To assist in holding it and keeping it alive.Support does not end at cheering.  I will certainly write a post on the art of communicating flaws in one's work; so that our attempt at creating a bridge doesn't send both the artist and their work drowning in a  sea of discouragement and unworthiness.But in the meantime, if you're going to be  a cheerleader, be one who understands, appreciates and believes in the value and potential of the art of project. Because quite frankly, most of the joy in being cheered on comes from knowing we are not alone and to be on someone's side is to say "I see what you're doing. I am rooting for you. This is good. And beyond the noise, this is something I would love to be  a part of."

---

In this era of finding our voices and telling our stories, I hope we choose truth as a value in our narrative. 

---