The Survivors
Eventually, something’s going to grow.
Outside my studio in Venice, we have a lush garden—birds of paradise, palms, ferns, flowers. There’s even a vegetable garden out front with a lemon and lime tree. When people hang out on the patio, they’ll usually say something like, “You are a good gardener!”
I just laugh and say, “Nah—these are just the ones I haven’t murdered yet.”
That’s the truth. The dead ones got replaced. What you’re seeing are the survivors. And honestly, that’s a perfect metaphor for the creative process.
To make anything good, you’ve got to be relentless. You’ve got to keep showing up. The people who make it are usually just the ones who didn’t stop. Through pure attrition, they find what works.
Especially when working with organic things—whether it’s soil or storytelling—you will make mistakes. A lot of them. So don’t get discouraged. Just keep planting. Keep replacing. Keep going.
Eventually, something’s going to grow.
