Blog

At the start of this year, I decided that I would devote myself to my creative endeavors. 

Have I done that? 

Well…

Thus far, I’ve consistently posted here every day. I have several bits of writing in varying states of completion, which I’m happy with. Though I’d prefer them to be completely completed. 

I’m planning to dedicate more time to these projects to bring them to completion. But more importantly, I’m looking to find more ways to embrace creativity. 

This has been, and continues to be, a useful forum for improving my writing, getting my opinions out, and committing to practice. But it’s not enough. 

As Adrien Brody’s character, Julien Cadazio, says in The French Dispatch: ” All artists sell their work. It’s what makes you an artist. Selling it.” 

So, maybe it’s time to create something to sell.

The stars have been used by sailors for centuries to navigate the oceans. They served as a reliable compass, helping to determine direction and location. This knowledge allowed sailors to explore the world and travel to previously uncharted lands.

Now, we use our phones. Everything has been made accessible, and all we have to do is click our destination. However, we are losing our connection to the stars, and to the mysteries of the night sky. This disconnection is a loss for us all, as it reminds us of our place in the world and the universe.

There’s something about looking up under a black night sky dotted with pinpoints that makes finding your place seem infinitely more exciting.

The first time I went on a ski trip (many years ago, and I took up a snowboard rather than skis), I was reading a book on internal medicine. It was by an Indonesian author, and he said that your core was what you needed to keep warm the most. 

I think about that often, especially now in these winter months. Most people wouldn’t think it’s particularly cold in LA, not compared to other places. But it’s cold enough. And this year has been unusually wintery.

So, just like in those colder climates, it’s imperative to keep your body warm. Layering your clothes is the best way to retain heat and stay warm. Wear a thin base layer, like a long-sleeved shirt, followed by a thicker, insulating layer like a sweater and a waterproof outer layer. Just like that look book of internal medicine suggested. 

I heard someone say recently that “you can’t ever really know anyone.” It’s true that we can never fully understand another person’s thoughts and feelings, but our relationships with others are based on trust and mutual understanding. 

We can strive to really get to know someone by listening and being present in the moment. Through communication and shared experiences, we develop strong, meaningful relationships.

On the other hand, some people prefer not to share everything about themselves and may feel more comfortable keeping some things to themselves. What’s inside remains inside. Sure, we believe that we understand a person. But the truth is, it’s a trust that we place in them. 

A sort of social compact. 

We may be confident in our assumptions of a person, but it’s only a guess. The truth is actually impossible to arrive at. 

Still, mostly, we believe in the best of those we care about. And I think we’re generally closer to the truth than we are from it.

I’ve said it before, many times, so maybe it’s old news now. But routines are critical. They give you a daily advantage, structuring your time so that you have less to think about. This allows you to use your brain power for other things.

Morning is one of the trickiest times, because it quite literally establishes the flow of your whole day. It’s important to have a routine in the morning that sets you up for success. For example, you could start your day with a light workout, followed by some quiet time for reflection and then a nutritious breakfast. Having a consistent morning routine can help you focus and be more productive throughout the day.

For me, it’s about thirty minutes of journaling while having my coffee, followed by a trip to the gym. I follow this routine most every day, even when I have to wake up at four in the morning. Which, let me tell you, I don’t particularly love. 

But I know it’s key for me to prioritize my health and well-being, so it’s worth it. After the gym, I’m energized and ready to tackle the day. Or, on the weekends, sink into the couch with more coffee and some cartoons.

Beyond those two elements, though, it’s a crap shoot. Make the bed, or do the cleaning. But the sun is up, and it’s a beautiful day in the City of Angels, so getting outside is nice too. All of these factors make it difficult to decide what to do first. However, with a little bit of planning, it’s possible to get the most important tasks done. Taking a few moments to prioritize tasks can help to make the most of each day.

This is certainly why scheduling and routine go hand in hand. 

Flow is sometimes described as a state of complete oneness with the activity you’re doing. But the more you think about it, the harder it can be to get into a flow state.

A good way to enter a flow state is to focus on the present moment and let go of any worries or distractions.

Take a few deep breaths to clear your mind, and then focus your attention on the task at hand. By doing this, it is possible to achieve a flow state.

For those who’ve visited a movie theater since the post-pandemic reopening, that phrase may be familiar. Nicole Kidman is now the unofficial spokeswoman of theater-going, appearing in an ad campaign that emphasizes the importance of the shared experience of seeing a movie in theaters. The campaign encourages viewers to “come to this place for magic” and to keep the tradition of going to the movies alive.

And, arguably, between her entreaties for AMC, and blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, it seems to be working. Movie theater attendance in 2022 was up from the year before, with total earnings reaching around 7.37 billion US dollars.

This is a stark increase from the 2020 attendance numbers, which dropped to around 2.2 billion US dollars due to the pandemic. The success of these films is a major contributor to the rise in attendance, showing that moviegoers are still willing to come out to the theater despite the risks.

The experience of attending movies is still enough to feel magical, even in the age of streaming services. Movie theaters are still seen as a special event and a source of entertainment. The return of audiences is a testament to the power of the cinema.

You do what you do until you can’t do it anymore, and then you do something else

It’s important to stay open to the possibilities that come your way and embrace them. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith and try something new. Life is too short to not go out and try.

“Maybe all meaningful journeys begin with a mistake. Some kind of transgression or false turn or flawed idea that sets a certain irresistible odyssey in motion.”

Kate Harris, Lands of Lost Borders

Robert Frost took the path not taken. Hannibal tried mountaineering with elephants (which was a mistake). Christopher Columbus set sail looking for India and ended up in the Americas. Leif Erikson explored the American continent 500 years before Columbus. Marco Polo traveled to China and back, opening trade routes between the two countries.

And sometimes, we ignore the GPS just to try an unfamiliar road to our favorite restaurant. Exploration can be a thrilling adventure, full of surprises and discoveries. It is a way to expand our horizons and learn more about the world.

As I’ve written before, we are an exploratory people – driven by curiosity and wonder. I can think of my first trip to Alaska, where I was mesmerized by the beauty and grandeur of the landscape. Just as Roosevelt had been, and Bering, and Cook, and numerous others. The same spirit of exploration that drove those pioneers still lives on today in all of us. We must continue to explore and learn, because each journey brings us closer to understanding ourselves, our world, and our place in it.