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Do People Rely Less on their Creative Ability with Increased Fame and Fortune (or Is it Just Me)?
Often I wondered how a person of great creativity begins to lose his or her edge. Famous comedians, such as Eddie Murphy, will be so engagingly humorous in their material and performance. Then, suddenly…the thrill is gone — for the audience. Surely, his natural gifts didn’t disappear, and yet when you see 2000 Eddie Murphy and compare him to his SNL days, it’s not. Quite. The same.
I live and work in Philly. Public transportation here is convenient and for me, cost effective. Most days I take the bus to or from work. Those who know me wonder why I don’t drive to work. The short answer is, “I don’t own a car.” The long answer is that my commute allows me to interact with all levels of society, many whom I might not have the opportunity to meet while rolling by with my windows up, door locks secured and hunkered in by 2700 pounds of metal and glass. Do I sometimes get annoyed with the crowd? Initially, I did. Then I realized: I am the crowd. This is what keeps me humble. I could buy a car, if I want. But having owned several cars over the last 26 years and commuting throughout every one of them, I find relief in not having to navigate traffic. Presently, I have other goals and a car is not at the top of that list.
