“I’m just sick of ego, ego, ego. My own and everyone else’s. I’m sick of everybody that wants to get somewhere, do something distinguished and all, be somebody interesting.”

-JD Salinger, Franny and Zooey

Frivolity. Phoniness. Inflated egos. Distasteful duplicity. And yet an ironically impudent itch to garner validation from entities you hold in disrepute. The same societal qualities that often leave me discouraged and disillusioned were similarly peevish to JD Salinger. But in Franny and Zooey, Salinger encourages those of us who are tempted to rashly escape ennui with a masterful resolution of redirection if viewed through the proper lens.

“I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I respect.”

By “keeping your expectations low,” it is possible to remain on superficially friendly terms with those pedantically intent on self-promotion. But it sure is unsatisfying.

“An artist’s only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms.”

Paint the pictures that no one sees. Write the books that no one reads. Make the music that no one hears.

“There isn’t anyone out there who isn’t Seymour’s Fat Lady…don’t you know who that Fat Lady really is? Ah, buddy. It’s Christ Himself.”

Because someone out there might be listening. And ultimately, we are all artists with an audience of One.

Ecclesiastes 9:10