In a lot of ways, non-artistic people are lucky. They might feel like they got the short end of the stick with their lack of artistic abilities, but in my opinion, they often more than make up for it in other aspects of life. Here are 12 reasons artistic souls (like me) should look in wonder at non-artistic people.
1. They understand how to enjoy something instead of obsess over it.
When un-artistic people like a book they read or a movie they watched, they’re just happy to have experienced something they enjoy. Unlike un-artistic people, people who are considered artistic will often try to figure out why they liked what they liked. For example, I’ll often dissect a movie to figure out what was effective and what wasn’t. Sometimes I wish I could just lie back and enjoy the art without feeling the need to break it down, but c’est la vie.
2. They can live outside their own heads.
Artists are extremely self-absorbed. I can say that, because I consider myself an artist. Un-artistic people, meanwhile, know how to be productive and get things done because they don’t have their head in the clouds. That’s an enviable skill.
3. They know how to be practical.
Artists oftentimes excel at the abstract, but struggle with the mundane. They may know how to paint a portrait of you, but might not know how to do their taxes. Non-artistic people should take pride in their ability to handle the stuff that seems basic, but is alien to so many artistic people.
4. They don’t overthink things.
It takes forever for artists to make decisions. They go back and forth (and back and forth) before they take action, and even then, they’re still not convinced that action was the right choice. Non-artistic people often know how to make decisions and not worry as much if they made the wrong choice.
5. They have more time on their hands.
It takes a long time to make art. There’s a common saying that it takes 10,000 hours to get good at something, particularly something artistic. That’s 10,000 hours that could be spent hanging with friends, going new places or just living your life. But time for stuff like that is exclusively reserved for non-artistic people.
6. They understand that it’s okay to indulge in junk entertainment every once in awhile.
Artistic people think that they need to only enjoy high-brow art. Non-artistic people are under no such misconception. Sure, Transformers isn’t going to win any Academy Awards, but the first one is a helluva lot of fun, so it’s better if you’re able to appreciate it for what it is.
7. They don’t need to express themselves.
Not expressing yourself sounds like a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be. A lot of non-artistic people don’t feel the need to express themselves through art because they’re happy with who they are. The sad truth is that artistic people are often less happy with themselves and the world around them, and they try to express their feelings with their art. Non-artistic people are free of that burden.
8. They understand that there are things more important than art.
Sure, art can be good. Great, even. But non-artistic people understand that there are things that matter more. Whereas artists might be recluses only concerned with making their art, the non-artistic understand the importance of things like spending time with friends and family.
9. They know the meaning of a real day’s work.
Making art is work—there’s no question about it. But it’s an odd type of work that doesn’t leave you as satisfied as you might be when you clock out of your work shift. Sometimes a construction worker feels more fulfilled than an artist, and oftentimes, they get paid more for their time and effort.
10. They’re usually better socially.
I’m being honest with myself when I say this: a lot of artists are awkward. They’re more concerned with making something than with relating and connecting to other human beings. Non-artistic people are more likely to cultivate meaningful, life-changing relationships than a lot of artists.
11. They just remember instead of reflect.
Artistic people are likely to focus too much on the past. They get caught in a rut in which they’re constantly trying to figure out what things meant, when they should really just focus on the present and the future. Non-artistic people are less likely to make that mistake, remembering the things that happened to them but not over analyzing them to death.
12. They’re better at letting things go.
Artistic people are prone to hold onto feelings like anger and grief and sadness. They think they need those negative emotions to fuel their art. Non-artistic don’t have harmful thoughts like that. That’s just another reason so-called “artists” should, at times, be jealous of the non-artistic, and not take shame in who they are.
Featured photo credit: Alex Eylar via flickr.com
