“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”—Henry Ford
CHARLES BUKOWSKI
Charles Bukowski is one of the most controversial yet intriguing American writers and poets. He had a reputation for writing raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically honest pieces about the darker aspects of life. The vices depicted in his work spanned from drinking and gambling to graphic violence and sex. His work was a reflection of personal demons he struggled with throughout much of his life. Even though his writing rubbed many people the wrong way, his body of work expressed a sense of compassion for people who struggled with similar life experiences.
Before he received success as a writer, Charles clocked in thousands of hours perfecting his craft by writing every day for nearly twenty-five years. He maintained a rigorous writing schedule throughout his life, often waking up early to write before heading off to his day job. During that time, Charles read and studied the work of Dostoevsky, Hemingway, and Celine. He experimented with their techniques and styles and applied them to his writing.
After decades of learning the craft, Charles Bukowski published his debut novel, “Post Office,” at fifty years old. At an age when most people would start planning their retirement, Charles’ mind was fully alive, absorbing life by engaging with it deeply. Over the rest of his career, he published five more novels and dozens of poems.
BEGINNER’S MIND
There’s a Zen Buddhist principle called beginner’s mind. First popularized in the West by Shunryu Suzuki, the beginner’s mind, or Shoshin, is a nuanced way of looking at the world. Shunryu described this concept by saying, “The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.” This way of thinking creates the mental conditions necessary for constant learning.
Shoshin requires that we drop all expectations and preconceived notions that we may have about any aspect of our craft. This mindset enables you to approach the world with a sense of openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.
Think about the last time you learned something about your craft you were proud of. Sure, there was some confusion, but the novelty of what you were trying to learn was also exhilarating. This feeling of awe that comes from learning is only achievable when you tap into the Shoshin mindset. Our best research on learning shows us that we drift away from learning things that don’t bring us joy. Joyful learning can lead you to a better relationship with your craft and yourself rather than getting bogged down with limiting beliefs and self-defeating thoughts.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE CRAFT
Bukowski’s lifelong commitment to continuous learning, practice, and experimentation demonstrates the importance of remaining a student of your craft. He was enthusiastically devoted to understanding the intricacies that made a story engaging and a sentence flow. Charles Bukowski fell in love with the art of writing.
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “For, verily, great love springs from great knowledge of the beloved object, and if you little know it, you will be able to love it only a little or not at all.” Great love comes from a great understanding of the thing you love. The more you delve deeper into a topic, a person, or anything, the more you will love them for things deeper than what lies on the surface.
Approach your creativity in the same way. Seek to understand it more and more each day. Nurture a deep connection with your craft. Don’t settle for a life of barely knowing the depths of your passion. Fall in love with it and rediscover the joy creativity brings.