Life crushes and impressionist art

I recently spent a few weeks in Western Europe with my wife and son.  We had a wonderful time.  I found insight in the Musee d’Orsay – an art museum highlighting works from the impressionist and post-impressionist eras.  I was struck by the idea that so many of the talented artists were great friends with one another and great friends with many of the thought leaders and revolutionaries of their day.  These artists drew inspiration not only from the ideas of other’s but from their relationships with people that inspired them and helped them see the world in new ways.

I think that each of us should be friends with a few people that energize and inspire us.  A friend who helps you come alive, helps you reset, helps you redirect, helps accelerate you.  I will call these friends a “life crush” for lack of a better term - someone who you platonically crush on for life. You can speak about things with your life crushes in ways that you can’t speak to anyone else because you think differently around them than you do when you’re with anyone else. Even between the years the relationship is fresh and revitalizing; even when distance and circumstance are such that you see your life crush only every several years.  I am grateful to crush on many people – both men and women – that inspire me and bring me to life.

Jumping back a paragraph… artists in the impressionist era and other areas drew inspiration from their life crushes and shared perspectives that helped them form revolutionary beliefs and ideas.

We live what we believe.

-Michael