Because the antidote for shame is self-love and self-
praise, this is what I did. I went for a walk through Rock
Creek Park. I prayed. I made a list for myself of past
compliments and good reviews. I did not tell myself, “It
doesn’t matter.” But I did tell my artist self, “You will heal.”
And I showed up for my opening. It was a lot more
successful than my reviews.
Three months later, my film was chosen for a prestigious
European festival. They offered to fly me over. To pay my
expenses. To showcase my film. I hesitated. The
Washington shaming had done its slow and poisonous
work. I was afraid to go.
But I knew better than to not go. My years in artistic
recovery had taught me to just show up. When I did, my
film sold at a great price and won a headline in Variety.
I share the headline because the irony of it was not lost on
me. “God’s Will Hit in Munich,” it read.
It is “God’s will” for us to be creative.

DEALING WITH CRITICISM

It is important to be able to sort useful criticism from the
other kind. Often we need to do the sorting out for
ourselves, without the benefit of a public vindication. As
artists, we are far more able to do this sorting than people
might suspect. Pointed criticism, if accurate, often gives the