8/20/2024 Day By Day
QUOTE:
“The most remarkable thing about you standing in my doorway is that it’s YOU, and that you’re standing in my doorway.
HIGHS / LOWS:
HIGHS: The last week has felt like one of opportunity. I’ve had the opportunity to spend much of my free time painting. I’ve had the opportunity to see many friends and loved ones. I’ve had the opportunity to plan and put energy into good things coming in my near future. It hasn’t been a week of particularly HARD work, but definitely a week of GOOD work. I think I often find myself feeling like if the work that I am doing is not hard enough, then how could it be good enough for my future. This week was a gentle reminder that I can work on things that feel fulfilling and feel good and don’t have to difficult. I’m hoping for these gentle reminders to continue into a peaceful yet giving Fall season.
LOWS: The more time I spend working, organizing, seeing friends, and committing to other things, I feel like I am losing time with myself. I focus on trying to commit to “self-care” days every week in order to prioritize myself within a busy schedule. This week in particular, I have been thinking about what it means to engage in “self-care”. Self-care should not be pushing myself to do personal work instead of focusing on my job. It should not be letting myself fall into a stupor of scrolling through my phone for a whole evening. Self-care should be INTENTIONAL. A low for me this week is that I haven’t felt intentional self-care for myself for a minute, and I’ve only realized that this week. Mental and emotional fatigue can still be prevalent, even if I take self-care days.
MEDIA REC:
Wolf in White Van (2014) Novel by John Darnielle
STREAM:
I talk to a lot of artists on the weekly about how they feel about where they are, and more importantly, where they feel like they are going. My coworkers, friends, and acquaintances all constantly inquire to each other about their paths. Of the many people that I have talked to, I’ve noticed trends in the perspectives of their different careers. Here are a few of the groups that I’ve noticed:
1. Artists who are happy with where they are, and happy with where they are going.
This group makes up the minority. Most artists that I talk to are constantly reaching for something else while being stuck in a place they can’t get it. The few who are happy with where they are AND where they are going tend to come from privilege, money, and connections within their industry already. It’s easy to be happy when artistic careers are offered to you on a silver platter.
2. Artists who aren’t happy with where they are, but are happy with where they are going.
This group makes up more of the majority of artists that I talk to. People who embody the creative mindset, but feel stuck within their means and circumstances. This is a difficult position to be in for artists working under the rule of capitalisms greedy thumb. Our world is not built by and for art, and many artists are struggling to survive. However, art and optimism tend to fall hand in hand. A clear path and a blank canvas lay ahead of many artists looking for the ideal life.
3. Artists who are happy with where they are, but are not happy with where they are going.
From the same vein of capitalism that encourages some artists, it can crush others. I have talked to many people who take on a bit more of a nihilistic standpoint on the artistic value of their career paths. A sense that “the world is dying so nothing I work toward will matter anyway.” However, the same people are happy and content with where they are. They focus on each individual day and make the most of it while they can. It is both sobering and refreshing.
4. Artists who aren’t happy with where they are and aren’t happy with where they are going.
Take a chill pill. Call your mom. Hug a tree.
LOOKING FORWARD:
Less than 2 weeks until my birthday!
I ordered both a new computer and new headphones.
Season 2 of Rings of Power will be out SOON.
Pumpkins are being prepped around the globe for Fall.
QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF (AND YOU):
How am I taking self-care time this week? Is it intentional? Is it passive?
What am I prioritizing for my career as an artist? Am I happy with where I am? Where I’m going?
Did I treat myself today? Did I yesterday? I deserve that always, right?
