People often talk about a feeling of emptiness inside: I first heard of this phenomenon in a book by Mark Epstein. He seemed to think that this feeling was one that was universal in human experience.

I've got to admit that I have never had this feeling; so I do not feel that it is essential to the human experience. My basic feeling is the opposite: I feel very full. I have felt that I was so full that I was near to exploding since about 13 years old, when I made a conscious commitment to pursue a passion for art. I am more inclined to feel frustration at not being able to work creatively. To continue the analogy, the feeling of creative frustration is a feeling like one is exploding inside a small box.

I lead a simple life, without much in the way of material goods; I have no children, no plans for retirement, no thoughts for the future, no investment in anyone else. On the surface, one might say I am poor in the things that most people value. Yet, I feel incredibly rich: I am rich in ideas, in visions, in dreams, in aptitude, in talent, in the arts, in health, in imagination, in love, in friendship, in relationships of all kinds.

I have never felt the need to have any children: I suppose because I see my work as my children. Giving birth to a painting, a movie, a design, a dance, a poem or prose is a process that I really enjoy. Sometimes I feel as if I am pregnant for a few years with an idea for something: I incubate it like a hen on an egg, until the moment is somehow right. Sometimes a piece is executed quickly; sometimes, it is painful and slow. But it always feels like giving birth in that in the end you look down in amazement that you produced this new thing that has never been in the world before. It has something to do with you, but it is also a complete entity in itself.

As for love, I feel very wealthy indeed. I have learned to love everything around me: that includes myself as an element in the natural world. I feel others love me in whatever way they can; I ask for nothing more than that which they are willing to give with a free heart. I don't feel the need to be loved, because I feel that I live in a loving universe. I once picked up a book in a bookstore called something like "101 Ways to Make Love": I furtively opened the cover to find that the author recommended such things as writing poetry, making art, appreciating nature, etc. Since then, I realized the only way to feel absolutely loved and secure was to be in a state of being in love with everything.

If I had ten lives, I could not possibly follow all my interests, all my passions, nor pursue all my visions, or develop all my creative ideas. Like the famed rich king, Croesus, I am rich beyond all imaginings.

I have never wanted a traditional life. I have come to the conclusion that it has less to do with talent or aptitude, than with the desire for something "other" that produces a life such as mine. In other words, I simply desired something else, and was prepared to pay the price of my creative freedom.

In my opinion, most people don't desire more, or dare to even dream that they might be able to have more. Perhaps they are afraid to take the risk and lose all; or they are afraid of success, or of being different, of being a "loner".

I think that we all ask for the life we have; some of us are simply more conscious of what is happening. So, as the genie in the bottle warned, "be careful what you ask for!" You might just dare to ask for more, and end up with an embarrassment of riches.