If you could do the one thing that you really want, what would it be?
And I guess, most of us may not have that answer. We all want to do things, and have experiences, and enjoy life. But, the one overwhelming desire we have – underneath all the cruft and conditioning – if we can’t identify it, how are we supposed to achieve it?
Took some time off to contend with travel, scope creep, and burn out. Trying again, though, as always, you never can tell.
Failing, though. While I think on it frequently, it’s not so bad. It really is okay to fail, I keep telling myself. And I keep writing about it. Because, failing will happen. Time and again.
In our attempts to reach the truth, we must consider many things, which can take time.
But what we lose in time, we gain back in perspective.
Right?
What we do matters.
What we don’t do is just as important.
Pick your actions and refusals with care and convinction.
In a recent comparison of broadcast tv today vs. 1975, there is a questioning – was tv back them, when half-a-billion viewers (yes, with same people viewing multiple shows) would tune in to watch All in the Family, Sanford & Son, and the others in the top ten – was it something we should want?
Now, a the top ten shows are lucky to get 10% of that.
But times change. Now it’s a lot easier to get the content that resonates with us. And that leaves room for niches that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” – William Cowper
Why would we lock ourselves into a specific way, just because it’s working at the moment?
It’s important to be open to new things, especially since new opportunities do come along just about every day.
Everyone is going about their day, doing something. Whose work is the most important?
To each of us, maybe we feel that is our own work. And so, when we try to work in concert with others, though on different priorities, it’s easy to find conflict.
Maybe not complete disagreement. But something amiss.
Navigating those different priorities is how we accomplish what we’re looking to accomplish.
Write. Write prodigiously. Even if it’s hard to believe that there is anything worth keeping.
You’re working it out – this writing mucle. Ideas are scattered throughout, to be sure.
All in all, what I’m trying to say is, just make something happen.
Steven Pressfield wrote about the resistance. That force that opposes the artist – that diminishes creativity.
But what if there’s another force in opposition of output? Something that I see as a means of filtration – it considers, instantaneously, what you’re about to make, and tries to shape it into something more palatable. More acceptable to an audience.
In doing that… We water down our own art. And I’m not sure if that is in itself part of the resistance, or if it’s something other.
Because that, whether resistance or not, can be combated simply by showing up – day in, and day out. Showing it that it is safe to create, and to push boundaries.
Working closely with people, you can see defined groupings. They crop up. These little cliques.
And you can start to see one group critique another. Criticize. Especially as projects near completion.
But, here’s the thing. In most cases, once the finish line is in sight. Crossing it is the goal.
Get it good. Maybe great.
Ultimately, though, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It does have to be done.
Michael's Musings 