Climbing Without The Claws

You just shared your big grant win, and suddenly the group chat feels like a cold front.

It is a classic Northern Ontario phenomenon, low-key more predictable than a May snowstorm. You decide to start a pottery collective, and instead of support, you get backhanded compliments about how it must be nice to have that kind of time. This is the crabs in a bucket mentality. When one crab tries to climb out of the pile toward freedom, the others instinctively reach up and pull it back down to the bottom. It is not necessarily because they hate you; it is because your movement makes them uncomfortable with their own stasis.

When you are an artist in a rural spot, the bucket feels smaller and the claws feel sharper. There is this weird logic that if you succeed, there is less success left for everyone else. It is a scarcity mindset that feeds on the isolation of the bush. But here is the thing: the bucket is an illusion. You do not have to fight the other crabs to get out. You just have to stop being a crab. That starts with observing the pull without letting it dictate your direction.

Mindfulness tells us to acknowledge the pull as just another weather pattern. When someone tries to gatekeep or diminish your work, notice the sting in your chest, name it, and then let it sit there without reacting. You do not need to defend your ambition to people who are terrified of their own. If you react with anger, you are just another crab snapping. If you react with stillness, you are the one who finally reaches the rim.

The arts are actually the best tool for dismantling this whole mess. Instead of working in a vacuum where everyone is watching everyone else's plate, try radical transparency. Start a Failure Club in your local arts council where people talk about their rejected applications. When we share the struggle, the competitive edge starts to dull. Collaborative murals or community-led workshops turn that me vs. them energy into us vs. the silence. It creates a new ecosystem where everyone’s growth provides a foothold for the next person.

Next time you feel a claw on your leg, take a beat. Breathe in for four, hold for four, and realize that their projection is not your reality. You are not responsible for fixing their insecurity, but you are responsible for your own dignity. Keep creating, keep climbing, and eventually, the view from the top will be worth the tugging you felt at the bottom. Reach back down, but only to offer a hand, not to join the scuffle.

Northwestern Ontario Arts, Culture and Recreation

Rooted in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario we're exploring arts, culture, and recreation programming that brings our communitiess together. From creative workshops and local exhibitions to youth activities and cultural events, we support rural artists, strengthen community connection, and celebrate the creative spirit of Northwestern Ontario.

Through community-based arts initiatives, recreation programming, and cultural gatherings, Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture fosters creative expression, collaboration, and long-term sustainability in the northern arts sector. Our work connects residents, empowers youth, and builds pride in local talent across rural Northwestern Ontario.

Learn more about our programs, events, and opportunities at Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture.