You Decide. Decide for Yourself

You Decide. Decide for Yourself.

by Mario A. Campanaro

We all know that life can throw us curveballs that knock us off course sometimes. Sometimes those curveballs catch us off guard, and we just have to laugh our asses off at the irony and say, “Are you serious right now?!” And sometimes, those curveballs knock the wind out of us and force us to crouch over with our fists in the air, saying, “Just give me a minute to catch my breath! Jeez!!!”

And then there are those other moments…

Oh, those other dreaded moments…

When the curveballs come whaling at us—one right after the other—leaving us utterly speechless, because there are no words to accompany such potentially shattering experiences. So we slowly make our way to the ground as the tears well up in our eyes, hoping the earth itself can somehow support such heaviness. We curl into that instinctual fetal position and listen to our own sobs mixing with the buzz of the universe’s electromagnetic OM-hum… and hope that some miracle comes along to rectify these really, really $#!++y circumstances.

But wait… hold on just a sec...

Let me propose some questions to consider. You decide. Decide for yourself.

What if these $#!++y circumstances are the answer? What if, within the complexity of these experiences, live the simplest of truths? What if all you (we) are going through is the spark for something else? What if it’s the spark for something special? What if all you (we) are going through is the food for your (our) artistic and creative hunger? What if it’s what inspires you (us) to create something of profound substance? What if it’s the fire you (we) need to make the change you (we) wish to see and experience—on a microcosmic level… and yes, even on a macrocosmic level… and maybe on an even bigger scale still?

Decide for yourself. You decide.

What if all you (we) are going through is guiding you (us) toward your (our) heart and soul’s greatest artistic and creative purpose? If there is a purpose to all of this… what else would it be there for? Really think about that. What is it all for? Just punishment? Are you (we) so bad that life just wants to treat you (us) poorly and make you (us) suffer? Are you (we) really that bad? Is life really that mean or evil?

I hope not. I don’t think so. I really, really don’t think so.

But what do I know? I just work here.

You decide. Decide for yourself. But maybe let’s leave that more “user-unfriendly” theory somewhere else for the time being.

It is in and through our experiences that we are fed as artists and creatives. We bring light to all that darkness in the world. And it is that very darkness that forces us toward the artistic and creative light. Artistically and creatively speaking… and yeah… maybe even energetically and spiritually speaking as well.

Decide for yourself. You decide.

The truth of the matter is: the more high-stakes our experiences are, the more we are usually inspired by them. A banal, everyday experience does not drive us to want to create. It’s what we’ve been through that becomes the driving, inspirational, artistic, and creative force.

Every day, we have an opportunity to take those experiences and use them to fulfill our best artistic and creative life. And as actors, as artists, we get to channel those experiences into our work and into fulfilling our creative dreams. Only you (we) truly have the power to realize every one of your (our) artistic and creative endeavors. You (we) have to allow all you (we) have been through to be the spark that inspires and keeps you (us) creating.

We all come from—and are made up of—that magnificent creative energy, that Source. Even at your (our) “worst,” your (our) artistic and creative energy is the exact “medicine” that will always keep you (us) going. It is your (our) strength. It is your (our) inspiration. It’s what allows you (us) to persevere.

Try not to worry about what everyone else’s take on things may be. You decide. Decide for yourself.

Your (our) inner experience doesn’t need to be understood by “the others” (as Jean-Paul Sartre calls them). Let that go. We cannot possibly expect “the others” to viscerally understand an experience they’ve never tasted. You (we) may struggle to hear the most uninformed… (I’m trying to be PC here using the word “uninformed”)… responses to your (our) experience. But you (we) have to put it all into perspective.

It’s actually why we create—to help others maybe see, feel, or hear things in a new way. Or at the very least, to understand something from a different perspective. Or better yet, to reflect back a mirror of who and what we are, and what connects all of us.

Decide for yourself. You decide.

We have all suffered in one way or another. That’s something we can all relate to. Everything can only be understood through one’s accumulated life experience and knowledge up to that point in time. But the experience itself is for you (us) to grow, solve, expand, evolve, and share—through art, through creation.

Yes, even at your (our) “worst.” Especially at your (our) “worst.”

Keep going. Suffer through it if you must. But never let adversity see you sweat. Or… maybe let it see a drop of fearful sweat. You decide. Decide for yourself.

Wipe your brow. Take a breath. Look adversity in the face. Smile like a professional. And say, “Game on, biatch!” Then fight, dance, wrestle, skip, kick-ball-change, tap, jazz hands, whistle, scream, sing, shake, cry… or whatever feels right.

Decide for yourself. You decide.

And give yourself the opportunity to walk through the experience. Go through it. Get through it. Don’t give up. Don’t run away. Challenge yourself. Challenge it. Dance with it. Learn from it. Grow from it. Create from it.

You decide. Decide for yourself.

Never stop using that innate fire within to continue creating. Do it for YOU—and for the world you live in. The power is in your hands, in your mind, and in your heart. If you (we) use the curveballs life has given you (us), and throw them back with something that contributes to the world, life will have your (our) back—and most likely throw something magnificent back your (our) way.

But what do I know? I just work here.

So go play the game. Go play catch. Go make your own artistic, creative curveball.

Decide for yourself. You decide.

Copyright © 2025 Mario A. Campanaro, All rights reserved."