This is the best "I can't write right now" piece I've ever read. I've read it twice. Even if they don't feel like home runs, you're still knocking them out of the park.
I'm in the same headspace. Right now my "process" -- if I can imply some degree of professionalism to my whole deal -- feels flat. Like someone (me!) let all the air out of the balloon and I'm just standing there wondering why it won't fly.
Anyway, you should come on my podcast again, which is easier and funnier than writing anyhow. :D
I have been meaning to email after your recent State of the Art of the Art…and I will. I am mostly trying to remind myself not to panic or to read too much into this goopy period; it just is. You hang in there as well and YES TO POD DOMINATION!!! Ready in 3..2…. 💥💕
Gosh, it can be hard when the “what am I even doing with myself” thoughts come to say hello. At the end of the day, I have to remember that I am not valuable because of how entertaining or useful I am to society, I am worthy just by being alive and human in this world, and that is enough 🙂
YES!!! You have it figured out Rene. The impact we make on other lives is the real legacy. Sometimes that is through work of some kind, but more often than not it's just giving it our human all. And blasting the Rocky theme works for that, too!!! :)
Sorry to hear Sheila about the inertia 🫂Well as they say, it happens to the best of us and you're the best! You did inspire me to put Napoleon Dynamite on my watch list, it's so iconic yet I've Never Seen It (btw I look forward to your next installment of that series!)
And great suggestion of listening to the Rocky theme to lift oneself out of a slump. Will have to try that as well as some Jamiroquai! 🎶
Thanks Marmi! It's all a natural course of things..and for someone who is a classic overthinker, can lead to spiral. So this was my way of talking out of that a bit. I know I'm not alone! :) Oh you must, MUST watch Napoleon!!! You will ADORE it! It's funny because it doesn't quite name the time period it takes place, but it manages to feel both current-ish and a product of the 80s. You just gotta dig in. Another one of my go-to music blasts is "Defying Gravity," natch ;) I think a new Never Seen It will drop next week....hang onto your Blue Pills--it's SORRY RABBIT, MATRIX ARE FOR KIDS!!! :)
For someone who is very, very bad with the math/hard science/physics thing, I impress myself…a little. I mean, it would be different if I had to solve the Good Will Hunting problem on stage at Carnegie Hall..which is NOT a recurring nightmare…nope.
Been there, there now, trying to break free. And I appreciate how you've done it here. I've spent much of the summer looking for ways to light the creative fire without setting my boxers ablaze. Trust me: No one (including me) wants to see that.
There are some positive signs. In my struggle to get out of my own rut/trough while trying to reset, I've noticed that my sense of humor is taking some promising twists and turns. When I start to say absurdist, unfiltered things to close friends (never complete strangers who would actually have me committed), it means my creative side is struggling to pop through the burned-out bubble. And as strange as that may sound, I do find promise in that.
Keep writing. Keep scribbling notes. And keep on entertaining and inspiring us. Pretty please.
Glenn--I love what you're doing and especially look forward to your photo series. So, I get the burnout and questioning and the whole "why am I doing this?" bit of angst in there, but as a fan of your work I say the same: please keep going and making what sparks for you.
I'm also a believer in the ism: "pay attention what you pay attention to." That will always lead you to authenticity. It sounds like you want to be expressing more of that funny, quirky, absurdist side and you absolutely should. When I've been able to relax more into my self (and that has been happening more here in this space), I have more fun working, I feel energized in ways I haven't before, and I just feel more at home. Looking forward to your next installment! And thank you for all the wonderful encouragement. Means a lot! X!
You’re right, Kevin! And they are really nothing to get too alarmed at. I think for me that’s half the battle—telling myself it’s, as my nephew used to say, “DISASTRY!!!!” when it’s just part of the nature of things….
Gonna Fly Now is such a perfect prompt to break any inertia in life, writing, fitness and otherwise. One of the few movie songs I prefer hearing from the actual film, with all the sounds, the train under the opening horns, sounds of the punches landing and the only spoken line in the entire montage, “you’re gonna kill him!” Impossible to stay stuck after hearing that.
And Napoleon Dynamite- his dance to Canned Heat is epic ofc. When I saw it the first time, I thought to myself, can’t top that. Then they end with The Promise in one of the all time 1-2 punches for a movie’s end. 🤌🏻
Hey Matt! I am with you on allll the Rocky as much as possible. I have been known to lose a good half hour on YouTube watching different versions of that from the movie or mixes or orchestral versions with the film playing in the background. Is this better than 30 minutes of meditation? I think it might be :)
Napoleon Dynamite remains one of my favorite films of all time. And I’m glad you pointed to the last scene, which I love cinematically, thematically, and musically. That moment is complete “chef’s kiss!” I am definitely going to rewatch it this week! Thanks!!!
Thanks so much Beth! I know it helps me to see the creatives I love and admire being human within their art-making experience, you know? I like to think that even Springsteen is like “But is anyone REALLY going to want this, or, just like my Mom….again?” :)
So much love for this post! I'd LOVE to watch you behind the desk serving up some Weekend Update! Yes please!! God I love that Napoleon Dynamite scene so much... and the Rocky training scene too of course, it's 2 sides of the same coin, both a shove to just go for it!
HAAAAAA!!! You are so sweet, Diana! Colin Jost won't mind if I just show up, right? I think it's time for a return to some more lady energy behind that desk anyway! :) Yeah, I love everything the film Napoleon Dynamite conveys. It has become one of my go-to uplift kind of movies--reaffirms the faith in humanity and it's also so beautiful to watch these relatable, off-beat people find themselves and each other. Napoleon: you contain multitudes! And damn you got moves, son! I'm so, so happy to get to know YOUR work, Diana..it is always inspiring and energizing! Keep dancing! :)
I love this post, Sheila. I keep that Napoleon dance scene always handy around here. Never fails to inspire me. I tell myself, "Just dance. Don't change yourself to meet anyone's expectations. Just do your dance!" I especially liked the audience's non-plussed reactions. Priceless. Thanks for sharing this with others.
Thanks Sharron! I LOVE that you have Napoleon on stand-by. It is such an affirming movie overall and I love that scene in particular. He just steps into himself and OWNS it..and that's something I guess I'll be learning for the rest of my life. And if it's the only lesson I master, I'll be okay with that! Cheers and happy arting! XO
Oh wow..thank you so much! I know I’m in good company struggling, floundering along sometimes…comes with the territory. Still, it’s nice to have the occasional life raft drift by, right? :) X!
This is the best "I can't write right now" piece I've ever read. I've read it twice. Even if they don't feel like home runs, you're still knocking them out of the park.
I'm in the same headspace. Right now my "process" -- if I can imply some degree of professionalism to my whole deal -- feels flat. Like someone (me!) let all the air out of the balloon and I'm just standing there wondering why it won't fly.
Anyway, you should come on my podcast again, which is easier and funnier than writing anyhow. :D
I have been meaning to email after your recent State of the Art of the Art…and I will. I am mostly trying to remind myself not to panic or to read too much into this goopy period; it just is. You hang in there as well and YES TO POD DOMINATION!!! Ready in 3..2…. 💥💕
Gosh, it can be hard when the “what am I even doing with myself” thoughts come to say hello. At the end of the day, I have to remember that I am not valuable because of how entertaining or useful I am to society, I am worthy just by being alive and human in this world, and that is enough 🙂
YES!!! You have it figured out Rene. The impact we make on other lives is the real legacy. Sometimes that is through work of some kind, but more often than not it's just giving it our human all. And blasting the Rocky theme works for that, too!!! :)
Sorry to hear Sheila about the inertia 🫂Well as they say, it happens to the best of us and you're the best! You did inspire me to put Napoleon Dynamite on my watch list, it's so iconic yet I've Never Seen It (btw I look forward to your next installment of that series!)
And great suggestion of listening to the Rocky theme to lift oneself out of a slump. Will have to try that as well as some Jamiroquai! 🎶
Thanks Marmi! It's all a natural course of things..and for someone who is a classic overthinker, can lead to spiral. So this was my way of talking out of that a bit. I know I'm not alone! :) Oh you must, MUST watch Napoleon!!! You will ADORE it! It's funny because it doesn't quite name the time period it takes place, but it manages to feel both current-ish and a product of the 80s. You just gotta dig in. Another one of my go-to music blasts is "Defying Gravity," natch ;) I think a new Never Seen It will drop next week....hang onto your Blue Pills--it's SORRY RABBIT, MATRIX ARE FOR KIDS!!! :)
Love that you worked in another physics reference here. :)
For someone who is very, very bad with the math/hard science/physics thing, I impress myself…a little. I mean, it would be different if I had to solve the Good Will Hunting problem on stage at Carnegie Hall..which is NOT a recurring nightmare…nope.
Been there, there now, trying to break free. And I appreciate how you've done it here. I've spent much of the summer looking for ways to light the creative fire without setting my boxers ablaze. Trust me: No one (including me) wants to see that.
There are some positive signs. In my struggle to get out of my own rut/trough while trying to reset, I've noticed that my sense of humor is taking some promising twists and turns. When I start to say absurdist, unfiltered things to close friends (never complete strangers who would actually have me committed), it means my creative side is struggling to pop through the burned-out bubble. And as strange as that may sound, I do find promise in that.
Keep writing. Keep scribbling notes. And keep on entertaining and inspiring us. Pretty please.
Glenn--I love what you're doing and especially look forward to your photo series. So, I get the burnout and questioning and the whole "why am I doing this?" bit of angst in there, but as a fan of your work I say the same: please keep going and making what sparks for you.
I'm also a believer in the ism: "pay attention what you pay attention to." That will always lead you to authenticity. It sounds like you want to be expressing more of that funny, quirky, absurdist side and you absolutely should. When I've been able to relax more into my self (and that has been happening more here in this space), I have more fun working, I feel energized in ways I haven't before, and I just feel more at home. Looking forward to your next installment! And thank you for all the wonderful encouragement. Means a lot! X!
Fellow overthinker here: This is all so, so utterly relatable. Fortunately, these valleys never seem to be too big!
You’re right, Kevin! And they are really nothing to get too alarmed at. I think for me that’s half the battle—telling myself it’s, as my nephew used to say, “DISASTRY!!!!” when it’s just part of the nature of things….
Oh yeah! Kool-Aid man level fun here. Well done!
Gonna Fly Now is such a perfect prompt to break any inertia in life, writing, fitness and otherwise. One of the few movie songs I prefer hearing from the actual film, with all the sounds, the train under the opening horns, sounds of the punches landing and the only spoken line in the entire montage, “you’re gonna kill him!” Impossible to stay stuck after hearing that.
And Napoleon Dynamite- his dance to Canned Heat is epic ofc. When I saw it the first time, I thought to myself, can’t top that. Then they end with The Promise in one of the all time 1-2 punches for a movie’s end. 🤌🏻
Hey Matt! I am with you on allll the Rocky as much as possible. I have been known to lose a good half hour on YouTube watching different versions of that from the movie or mixes or orchestral versions with the film playing in the background. Is this better than 30 minutes of meditation? I think it might be :)
Napoleon Dynamite remains one of my favorite films of all time. And I’m glad you pointed to the last scene, which I love cinematically, thematically, and musically. That moment is complete “chef’s kiss!” I am definitely going to rewatch it this week! Thanks!!!
Beautiful work!
Thanks so much Beth! I know it helps me to see the creatives I love and admire being human within their art-making experience, you know? I like to think that even Springsteen is like “But is anyone REALLY going to want this, or, just like my Mom….again?” :)
So much love for this post! I'd LOVE to watch you behind the desk serving up some Weekend Update! Yes please!! God I love that Napoleon Dynamite scene so much... and the Rocky training scene too of course, it's 2 sides of the same coin, both a shove to just go for it!
HAAAAAA!!! You are so sweet, Diana! Colin Jost won't mind if I just show up, right? I think it's time for a return to some more lady energy behind that desk anyway! :) Yeah, I love everything the film Napoleon Dynamite conveys. It has become one of my go-to uplift kind of movies--reaffirms the faith in humanity and it's also so beautiful to watch these relatable, off-beat people find themselves and each other. Napoleon: you contain multitudes! And damn you got moves, son! I'm so, so happy to get to know YOUR work, Diana..it is always inspiring and energizing! Keep dancing! :)
Thank you Sheila!! You are generous with your writing and support in all forms! I shall indeed keep dancing, see you on that stage! ;)
I dance like Elaine Benes…..you won’t be able to miss it!!! :)
haha, I love it!!!
Lemme noodle this and get back to you. I'm having an opposite experience of overwhelm and fighting for energy and time. Buh hold on.
I love this post, Sheila. I keep that Napoleon dance scene always handy around here. Never fails to inspire me. I tell myself, "Just dance. Don't change yourself to meet anyone's expectations. Just do your dance!" I especially liked the audience's non-plussed reactions. Priceless. Thanks for sharing this with others.
Thanks Sharron! I LOVE that you have Napoleon on stand-by. It is such an affirming movie overall and I love that scene in particular. He just steps into himself and OWNS it..and that's something I guess I'll be learning for the rest of my life. And if it's the only lesson I master, I'll be okay with that! Cheers and happy arting! XO
Wow! So much to take in here. This is the the best kind of writing that I truly adore 👌🏽
Oh wow..thank you so much! I know I’m in good company struggling, floundering along sometimes…comes with the territory. Still, it’s nice to have the occasional life raft drift by, right? :) X!
Haha yes life rafts are super handy! You’ve welcome, in good company indeed 😌x
Grand! I see your white flag..I’m waving mine! :)
Swell, I’ll bring a bottle or two! 😀
Haha let’s stay afloat together 😀
Deal! I’ll bring snacks!