Scherer Field, Spring Hill-City View: Royal Street
Merce Cunningham’s famous words, “You have to love the daily work,” are both completely accurate and totally annoying when creative adventures go sideways and become unruly. Daily work can be challenging, especially when it doesn’t follow the preconceived expectations we’ve cemented in the past or fantasized about for the future.
Encouraging the embrace of “daily work” reminds me of old-time traditional wedding vows. As with all serious commitments, our creative lives continue for better or worse, for richer or poorer. Throughout the years, we navigate sickness and good health, and we try our best to cherish and honor even when we want to throw our tools, materials, and creations (including our bodies and the bodies of others) onto the floor, out the door, or through a window in frustration or despair.
Perhaps Merce’s words show that when daily work is grounded in deep, abiding love, unpleasant tasks can become more manageable and disappointments more bearable. And while most of us would likely cringe at the word “obey,” loving the daily work might help us to simply let some things be.
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