Hi, it’s me.
After my last post, several months of challenges (including a moderate stint of COVID) kept me from writing. Not that I was writing as frequently as I wanted to before all that happened.
I’m happy to say I came through it all fine.
Such a long absence required me to decide whether to continue this newsletter.
At first, I thought, okay, I’ll try again.
Does anyone else have Yoda’s wise saying embedded in their brain, always triggered whenever you think or write “try?”
So, here I am, doing. I’ll publish twice per month, which feels like a pace I can handle to get the creative juices flowing again.
I’m truly glad to be back.
Everyone has something.
Despite plenty of evidence otherwise, I carry a persistent notion that everyone has their act together except me.
Even though I learned a long time ago that people who are (or appear to be) happy, successful, or both have stuff they’re dealing with. Failing relationships, serious illness (theirs or a loved one’s), money problems, car trouble, stubborn teenagers.
I follow some wonderful artists (like Willa Wanders) and writers (like Austin Kleon on his website and his Substack newsletter) to learn, get inspiration, and have fun. They offer occasional glimpses into their personal lives, showing good and bad times.
Mostly, they power through and get it done.
Then something happens, and they have to set it all aside for a while.
The message I take from this is to let myself off the hook when I have to back off. Set creative projects and other obligations aside for a while without daily internal admonishments.
Another anti-perfectionism lesson.