I create because I must...

I've had occasion to spend time with artists. I've able to do this through the conceit (or perhaps deceit) that I too was an artist. There was one plastic artist that I was speaking with while she was preparing some of her works for market; our chat took place within her tidy but overflowing studio. She said

I create because I must, if I can make some money from it, that's great.

Having heard the same sentiment stated less directly from other artists, it was at that point that I realized I was out of my league. I create because I want to and with arduous effort, I can empathize with the artist's claim as I think we all have something that we do that is as much a part of our constitution as respiration is to our bodies, but for me it is not in the plastic or performing arts. Fortunately, it doesn't stop me from trying to be an artist, but it does put me in my proper place on the scale of nature.

and as things fell apart...

This might well be a prelude to the "snowglobe theory of life" that is threatening to appear here.