Martes 1 de abril de 2025
There is too much art in this city. Too much stimuli. Too much one can draw inspiration from. But there’s also too much inspiration around the world. it’s not exclusive to Paris.
Inspiration depends on the eyes of the observer. It’s everywhere: in the way people react to problems; in nature’s noises; in a cat’s pose; in the infinite combinations of flavors—good and bad; in the way our bodies respond to someone else’s naked self. I could go on endlessly.
Sources of creation crowd the world and make it a miraculous place to inhabit.
With so many creating, with so much creation, one inevitably asks: (a) When will my creations come to life? (b) What should I create?
The world does not need more trash. It would be selfish of us to create without conscience—a sin I’ve committed before, and one I’m not exempt from committing again. But how can we avoid producing disposable, smelly shit?
To answer this question, I had to pause, take a bite or two of my chocolate crêpe, and sip my spritz, a combo I’m sure my digestive system won’t appreciate.
It’s a tough question.
Originally, I was going to say that one can avoid creating trash by meditating thoughtfully on all aspects of the subject. But that hasn’t stopped people from theorizing whatever bullshit they can come up with to justify their monsters.
Then I thought of something closer to my current perspective: You have to pay attention to your intention. Nonetheless, intentions can walk among us in disguise. You can fool your brain into believing your motives are pure and valid, even when you know—deep down—they’re corrupted.
The heart, however… you can’t fool the heart. You can’t stop it from beating faster when you’re lying to yourself or the world (unless you’re a mythomaniac). I believe we can trust the heart’s wisdom because it holds the remnants of the children we once were.
It contains all the formidable, devastating, and ravishing episodes of our emotional autobiography. The heart is the answer. Even when we manage to fool others, our hearts hold us accountable. And if we respond accordingly, they will act as a force of nature, redirecting us toward our truest intentions and ultimate purpose.
The ironic part is that even when you’ve created something from your heart, others may still perceive it as trash. As I mentioned earlier, it all depends on the observer. And it always will. But at least you can sleep at night knowing your creation was born from the most sincere, moving muscle in your body.
Benjamín Cedeño 