"A Hero in Gublerland" by Fugacious Sagacity
Friday, April 2, 2010
A Hero in Gublerland
SOURCE: http://fugacious-sagacity.blogspot.com/2010/04/hero-in-gublerland.html
A little while ago, during a bout of insomnia, I found my way to Gublerland. "What is that?", you ask. Well, it is the brainchild/ alter-ego/true soul of Matthew Gray Gubler. I found it by accident and have been drawn back to it during subsequent bouts of insomnia, though it does warp dreams once sleep finally takes hold. This site is full of interesting bits. It's like a treasure hunt of little things to find and open.
On his way back from the bathroom, my oldest peeked over my shoulder. I heard a sleepy, "what is that?" from behind me. Scared me half to death actually. Anyway, he pulled up a chair and I explained who the man is. "He's that guy on criminal minds. You know, the nerdy one. Oh, he was the voice of Simon the chipmunk". My son looked at picture of him and just couldn't see him as Simon, but thought it was neat anyway. I'm putting this on here not because I'm his biggest fan, though I might be now, but because of what he did for my son. Okay, he himself didn't do a darned thing, but his website sure did.
My son is very shy. He is wonderfully creative and musically inclined. Yet, he has a confidence issue. Okay, maybe that isn't entirely correct. He just thinks that nothing he does is perfect enough to be good, and if it isn't "good" to him how could anyone else stand it. In reality, this kid is amazing, (perhaps I'm a bit biased). Despite our diligent encouragement and the fact that we point out things that he enjoys regardless of their lack of perfection, he still is very hard on himself. Enter Gublerland.
As he pulled up a chair beside me, I was scrolling through some artwork on the Gublerland site. My boy, was not impressed so much by the pictures themselves, as by the form or style. You see, Gubler's art isn't perfection, by any stretch. It is warped and twisted and glorious for what it is. My son was enthralled. He kept asking questions and was wide-eyed and finally understood what we have been trying to teach him. He never has to be perfect. When it comes to his creativity especially, he can just feel his way. He learned, or is in the process of learning, that a drawing of a dog doesn't have to be a perfect replica to get the point across. He learned that warped and twisted is perfectly acceptable, and not to be suppressed but celebrated as a different piece of who he is, (not that he's all dark and twisted, but we all have our moments). He learned that a lopsided smile can be beautiful. He learned that ordinary and extraordinary are just two steps apart. He learned that if so many people can like the paintings and sketches that he was looking at, then maybe, he's a lot better than he thought he was. Oh yeah, he also couldn't get enough of clicking on little oddities to see what weirdness would ensue.
Since that night, my son seems much lighter. It's like he has been released from the doubt that bound him. He doesn't believe that he is amazing, but he does acknowledge that he has some talent. He is beginning to take the time to enjoy his endeavors more. He isn't lost within himself while doing something that he loves. He is allowing himself the first steps of freedom. This is something that, try as I might, I just could not teach him. It is one of those lessons that he needed to learn in his own time, his own way.
So again, I say Woo Hoo, and a huge thanks to Matthew Gray Gubler. Long Live Gublerland!
A Hero in Gublerland
SOURCE: http://fugacious-sagacity.blogspot.com/2010/04/hero-in-gublerland.html
A little while ago, during a bout of insomnia, I found my way to Gublerland. "What is that?", you ask. Well, it is the brainchild/ alter-ego/true soul of Matthew Gray Gubler. I found it by accident and have been drawn back to it during subsequent bouts of insomnia, though it does warp dreams once sleep finally takes hold. This site is full of interesting bits. It's like a treasure hunt of little things to find and open.
On his way back from the bathroom, my oldest peeked over my shoulder. I heard a sleepy, "what is that?" from behind me. Scared me half to death actually. Anyway, he pulled up a chair and I explained who the man is. "He's that guy on criminal minds. You know, the nerdy one. Oh, he was the voice of Simon the chipmunk". My son looked at picture of him and just couldn't see him as Simon, but thought it was neat anyway. I'm putting this on here not because I'm his biggest fan, though I might be now, but because of what he did for my son. Okay, he himself didn't do a darned thing, but his website sure did.
My son is very shy. He is wonderfully creative and musically inclined. Yet, he has a confidence issue. Okay, maybe that isn't entirely correct. He just thinks that nothing he does is perfect enough to be good, and if it isn't "good" to him how could anyone else stand it. In reality, this kid is amazing, (perhaps I'm a bit biased). Despite our diligent encouragement and the fact that we point out things that he enjoys regardless of their lack of perfection, he still is very hard on himself. Enter Gublerland.
As he pulled up a chair beside me, I was scrolling through some artwork on the Gublerland site. My boy, was not impressed so much by the pictures themselves, as by the form or style. You see, Gubler's art isn't perfection, by any stretch. It is warped and twisted and glorious for what it is. My son was enthralled. He kept asking questions and was wide-eyed and finally understood what we have been trying to teach him. He never has to be perfect. When it comes to his creativity especially, he can just feel his way. He learned, or is in the process of learning, that a drawing of a dog doesn't have to be a perfect replica to get the point across. He learned that warped and twisted is perfectly acceptable, and not to be suppressed but celebrated as a different piece of who he is, (not that he's all dark and twisted, but we all have our moments). He learned that a lopsided smile can be beautiful. He learned that ordinary and extraordinary are just two steps apart. He learned that if so many people can like the paintings and sketches that he was looking at, then maybe, he's a lot better than he thought he was. Oh yeah, he also couldn't get enough of clicking on little oddities to see what weirdness would ensue.
Since that night, my son seems much lighter. It's like he has been released from the doubt that bound him. He doesn't believe that he is amazing, but he does acknowledge that he has some talent. He is beginning to take the time to enjoy his endeavors more. He isn't lost within himself while doing something that he loves. He is allowing himself the first steps of freedom. This is something that, try as I might, I just could not teach him. It is one of those lessons that he needed to learn in his own time, his own way.
So again, I say Woo Hoo, and a huge thanks to Matthew Gray Gubler. Long Live Gublerland!