Let’s face it, mainstream thinking makes very little accommodations for creative thinking or risk taking. I worked for a number of years for a very conservative mainstream company nicknamed “Ma Bell”. Back then she controlled everything when it came to communications type stuff. When I started working there as a young engineer I had many ideas about how to make things better for both us employees and our customers. I was told that my ideas involved risk and the company didn’t mind risk, as long as you never failed! 😳 Needless to say, that statement let me know that I should keep my ideas to myself. There was a certain way things were done there, don’t bother trying to re-invent the wheel as they often said. Now, let’s get to the meat of this post, shall we?

Most creative artists are on a very narrow piece of the margins. I read an article recently that many artists are also waiters as that is how they make the money to live on while they are doing what they really want. The “Starving Artist” perception is often reality, but most don’t mind.

I am kind of a starving artist in that regard. No, because I am officially retired, I don’t have to be a waiter to pay for my blogging, but blogging does take up a considerable time in my life. Since I reside on the margins because of my Aspie traits and my deafness I am used to living outside the mainstream. It is the only place I have known for the last four score or so years. My readership doesn’t begin to compare with many of my fellow bloggers, but that’s OK as I am doing it as much for myself as for you. Don’t get me wrong I do appreciate every one of you who regularly take the time to visit RJ’s Corner. You are a dedicated bunch from around the world who is interested in how some of us Americans aren’t like what your government tell you we are. I am grateful that I live in America, with its many faults and all, as “Having My Say” is downright dangerous in some countries.

Margin living is not for sissies, it takes a lot of courage and stamina to find a joyful life here.