Stuffocation: A book about sacrificing buying power for experience power.
If you managed to survive my last few posts, you know I love the idea of less stuff. Getting rid of stuff has been my therapy for decades now and I'm only 26. So what can someone like me learn from a book like this?
More than I thought.
I originally stumbled on this subject while rotating through TED talks on YouTube. I liked what James Wallman had to say enough to reserve his book at my library. I totally skipped the first half of the book because I thought I already knew the "why" well enough and started skimming the heart of his message.
Firstly, I was totally impressed with his writing style. It's completely different from other books of this type. Instead of spending most of the time expostulating his own opinion and suggesting "how to" he takes most of his time relating different peoples experiences in beautiful detail. It reads like a documentary more than a thought book. For example, one part describes a woman as; "LeVally is tiny. She is five feet tall. She has porcelain skin that is flecked with freckles. She looks, from a distance, a little like a pixie doll."
That is beautiful writing. Where others would take maybe 10-20% to describe other people and their experiences and the rest of the time to prove themselves right, Wallman flips that and takes the time to paint a portrait of each of his subjects. It makes the whole thing visual and relatable and teaches his view more effectively than just making the argument. Now that I think of it, he did the same thing in his TED talk by taking most of the time to tell the story of his grandparents, his father, his brother, and himself. It's a wonderful style I wish I could copy.
Now to the message. The title is a little misleading. I came at the original TED talk thinking it was going to be a similar message that the minimalists have about how stuff suffocates society and that we can truly live if we just got rid of our stuff. Wallman's message is more about sacrificing stuff and high work, high pay jobs for experiences and quality time.
Stuffocation is more about rejecting the mainstream system in favor of a more customized life. You're not just rejecting consumerism to go and live in a cave. He is careful to explain that some consumerism is actually a good thing, but the consuming is based more on priority of life than an expression of wealth or "deserving" something. Kind of like how Tiny House dwellers have to really prioritize their possessions because they live in such a small space. Many of the people in his book still have normal jobs, they are just jobs based on their terms that maximize time to live.
As each story gets more fascinating, I regret skimming the book. I'm tempted to go back and read the whole thing a bit more carefully. I'm not done with it yet, but I already believe this is the smartest book I've read this year. It's the perfect middle ground between the outlandish and the accessible. If you are still struggling with the ideas of going with less and rejecting material status symbols in favor of experiences, this is the book for you.
I even learned something new about Henry David Thoreau. No English major can get through college without hearing about Walden Pond and how its every writers dream to live with the simplicity that Thoreau did. Just live simply, listen to the birds, and write all day. It was perfect. What could be more pastoral? Except Wallman just blew that writers dream out of the water by explaining that Thoreau only lived that way for two years, two months, and two days. He offhandedly states that Thoreau got bored and returned to society. That makes sense to me because people are my muse, but this is Thoreau, the god-father of total craft devotion. The gold standard for an ideal writers life style that my teachers always warned we could never live modernly. My mind was blown.
I'm excited to continue studying this book. Maybe I'll do another post on it when I am finished.
Personally I just did a paper cleanse of my tiny 81 square foot apartment bedroom. (I actually thought it was 100 and just had to double check for accuracy. Wow, I had no idea.) This included school papers and files of papers I thought I had to keep. The state of my room tends to be the state of my mind and it's been touch and go lately. The paper cleanse re-established my sanity and made the space feel a lot lighter. Lifting that tiny file box, about ten pounds lighter, felt very good.
Exciting thought: the Minimalists are coming out with a documentary called Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things on May 24th. Will definitely be blogging about that one.
Now it's confession time.
There is a critical error in my last few posts. As a writer, I can humbly admit this. My posts are full of big ideas, but they lack focus.
In short, they are lazy, unstructured, and without transition.
So basically the critique I always got on every paper or short story I wrote with a lazy eye and lack of proofreading. Every writer has their Achilles heel.
Listen, if I'm reading my own posts a month later and get lost, there is a major problem. I am big enough to admit it. The point of this blog is for me to practice and get better, not worse.
Here's to a promise to be a little better, to practice a little more seriously, and to strive for clarity and transitions.
Showing posts with label life style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life style. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
The Purposes of Sugar
I just watched yet another documentary in a stream of documentaries that seem to say a lot of the same thing.
We are fat.
And it's the organizations fault.
That's just grand isn't it? Now that so many people know that the government and "Big Food" are out to kill their consumer base, everything should be quick and easy to fix right?
Yeah. No.
Here's the thing. I think pointing fingers does absolutely nothing to solve the problem. The science is there. A lot of science actually. More science than a McDonald's filled with big macs. We know that convenient food in all it's form (not just fast food) is slowly killing us. I did enjoy the picturesque comparison that the documentary made of how soda is the new cigarette. That's pretty on the nose when you consider how quickly sugar is absorbed and consumed from a single can; not to mention the dissolving effect carbon has on bones.
This is not new knowledge though.
It hasn't been new for decades, if you're to believe the research of the documentary "Fed Up."
So why has nothing changed?
I have a few theories.
The first being that the arguments used today are exactly the same arguments people with interests made back in the early days of America when we wrote the Constitution. Back then, there were strong arguments for the abolishing of slavery in the new United States of America, but that obviously didn't happen until much later. Why? What people may not remember, is that a big argument used to keep slavery was that it would put too big a strain on the new economy that was still recovering from the Revolutionary War.
Similarly, the food industry is using the economy, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice to keep it's doors open. Put yourself in their shoes. Wouldn't you be terrified if you were told that the cow that has given you milk to sell for decades was giving bad milk? You would do everything you could to argue for your livelihood and to keep the status quo of what you know has been working all along. Even if someone told you to trade for a new, healthier cow to save your consumers, you'd hesitate to do so wouldn't you? Especially if you hadn't tasted any success or seen any evidence of this new cows ability to support you.
Needless to say. I don't like painting businesses as bad guys. It's not the people so much as it is the nature of business itself. They do what they have to do in order to continue existing. That's it.
The government on the other hand has tried several times to fix the issue. The problem is people don't like given the government too many prerequisite laws they can exploit later. Banning stuff never seems to work anyway. Positive propaganda, on the other hand, does wonders for consumer opinion. Remember the meth commercials? I still have nightmares. What needs to change, is the people.
Which brings me to theory two. These businesses wouldn't exist at all in the form that they do if there weren't consumers to buy the products that they sell. You can argue all you like about long work hours and lack of cooking experience and other excuses, but at the end of it all, that's all anyone has, excuses. Long work hours? You have days off to prepare don't you? Why buy into the sedentary cultural norm of sleep, work, tv? Lack of cooking experience? If you're going to watch tv anyway, it wouldn't kill you to spend a few minutes on a show or a "how to" YouTube video, or you could send a teenager to work in a kitchen and bring back the knowledge he/she gains there. You have friends. Doesn't even just one of them know how to BBQ?
It's tough to change and it's tougher to ask these questions, but it is possible. It's all about the priorities.
Now finally, about sugar.
You all probably remember the cute polar bear ad of the family of polar bears drinking soda together, playing together, visiting the doctor together, getting insulin together, and finally together watching papa lose his leg. And I thought the meth commercials were scary. The end message was that sugar is deadly. It's the new tobacco.
So, all this got me thinking. What is the purpose of sugar in the diet anyway? What does it actually do for us? Is it anything positive?
A bit of research shows that other than turning into glucose for cell energy, which every starch and carb does anyway, all sugar uniquely does is provide taste and texture.
That's it.
Now, is it possible to change and combat this addictive substance?
It's probable.
I tried to be a vegan....well...98% vegan for three months. That experiment cleaned my pallet. Sugars while still appealing, weren't quite so demanding anymore. I now love vegetables and still find ways to eat mostly veggie based meals. I learned what it felt like to feel clean on the inside and I try to recapture that feeling with each meal.
So who knows. I think the key to solving our nations health crisis lies in the tiny choices on each plate, and inside each person, one bite at a time.
Now if they would only focus on the "how" of that in the documentaries.
We are fat.
And it's the organizations fault.
That's just grand isn't it? Now that so many people know that the government and "Big Food" are out to kill their consumer base, everything should be quick and easy to fix right?
Yeah. No.
Here's the thing. I think pointing fingers does absolutely nothing to solve the problem. The science is there. A lot of science actually. More science than a McDonald's filled with big macs. We know that convenient food in all it's form (not just fast food) is slowly killing us. I did enjoy the picturesque comparison that the documentary made of how soda is the new cigarette. That's pretty on the nose when you consider how quickly sugar is absorbed and consumed from a single can; not to mention the dissolving effect carbon has on bones.
This is not new knowledge though.
It hasn't been new for decades, if you're to believe the research of the documentary "Fed Up."
So why has nothing changed?
I have a few theories.
The first being that the arguments used today are exactly the same arguments people with interests made back in the early days of America when we wrote the Constitution. Back then, there were strong arguments for the abolishing of slavery in the new United States of America, but that obviously didn't happen until much later. Why? What people may not remember, is that a big argument used to keep slavery was that it would put too big a strain on the new economy that was still recovering from the Revolutionary War.
Similarly, the food industry is using the economy, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice to keep it's doors open. Put yourself in their shoes. Wouldn't you be terrified if you were told that the cow that has given you milk to sell for decades was giving bad milk? You would do everything you could to argue for your livelihood and to keep the status quo of what you know has been working all along. Even if someone told you to trade for a new, healthier cow to save your consumers, you'd hesitate to do so wouldn't you? Especially if you hadn't tasted any success or seen any evidence of this new cows ability to support you.
Needless to say. I don't like painting businesses as bad guys. It's not the people so much as it is the nature of business itself. They do what they have to do in order to continue existing. That's it.
The government on the other hand has tried several times to fix the issue. The problem is people don't like given the government too many prerequisite laws they can exploit later. Banning stuff never seems to work anyway. Positive propaganda, on the other hand, does wonders for consumer opinion. Remember the meth commercials? I still have nightmares. What needs to change, is the people.
Which brings me to theory two. These businesses wouldn't exist at all in the form that they do if there weren't consumers to buy the products that they sell. You can argue all you like about long work hours and lack of cooking experience and other excuses, but at the end of it all, that's all anyone has, excuses. Long work hours? You have days off to prepare don't you? Why buy into the sedentary cultural norm of sleep, work, tv? Lack of cooking experience? If you're going to watch tv anyway, it wouldn't kill you to spend a few minutes on a show or a "how to" YouTube video, or you could send a teenager to work in a kitchen and bring back the knowledge he/she gains there. You have friends. Doesn't even just one of them know how to BBQ?
It's tough to change and it's tougher to ask these questions, but it is possible. It's all about the priorities.
Now finally, about sugar.
You all probably remember the cute polar bear ad of the family of polar bears drinking soda together, playing together, visiting the doctor together, getting insulin together, and finally together watching papa lose his leg. And I thought the meth commercials were scary. The end message was that sugar is deadly. It's the new tobacco.
So, all this got me thinking. What is the purpose of sugar in the diet anyway? What does it actually do for us? Is it anything positive?
A bit of research shows that other than turning into glucose for cell energy, which every starch and carb does anyway, all sugar uniquely does is provide taste and texture.
That's it.
Now, is it possible to change and combat this addictive substance?
It's probable.
I tried to be a vegan....well...98% vegan for three months. That experiment cleaned my pallet. Sugars while still appealing, weren't quite so demanding anymore. I now love vegetables and still find ways to eat mostly veggie based meals. I learned what it felt like to feel clean on the inside and I try to recapture that feeling with each meal.
So who knows. I think the key to solving our nations health crisis lies in the tiny choices on each plate, and inside each person, one bite at a time.
Now if they would only focus on the "how" of that in the documentaries.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
A Whole New Level of WOW
It's no secret I love cool new things. I love technology, exploration, discovery and innovative ideas that make life better. I also love things that make me feel a little less guilty about the planet/healthier/like I can do it myself.
I've already discussed extensively why less stuff is just good overall for your general sense of well being and your wallet. How about we talk about less trash?
What do you think of when you think of the waste we throw out in a day?
This is what I can list without pausing: peels, packages, floss, tissues, nails, hair, damaged goods, food boxes and bags, dvd cases, sanitary stuff, empty lotion, cream, chemical, cleaning bottles, paper towels, fast food waste, messed up tape, Saran wrap....and I stutter to a stop there.
Bascially, I always believed trash was a thing and would always be a thing, like death, or taxes.
Then I found this YouTube video posted by Seeker Stories in April of 2010, which interviews a woman who only has one tiny mason jar of trash to show after two years of life. She doesn't even own a proper trash can.
How does this even happen? Especially in a society that the video claims throws out 4.3 lbs of trash per person per day?
Well, as the title of this video proudly proclaims, "You Can Live Without Producing Trash." The video then demonstrates how by choosing only the biodegradable, or living without, you can extremely reduce your waste (possibly, by increasing your laundry and travel expenses to composting sites, but hey, there are always sacrifices in this war against pollution).
The thing that caught my eye though, was the toothbrush.
It's bamboo. Like legitimate, food for fuzzy black and white cuddly pandas bamboo.
I love this idea and its not just because it has to do with pandas. I just like the idea of using something that won't sit uselessly for the next thousand years but can be broken down and fed back into the environment that supports me. All relationships are give and take after all and to me natural stuff done right is an investment, not a luxury.
A.D.D. Moment: Someday, I hope they can invent a thing that reduces the trash already buried in landfills back to their molecular state. In a sense, reverse the landfill. Wouldn't that be cool?
So, of course I did my research and found a website called Woobamboo, and wouldn't you know their mascot is a panda? They specialize in bamboo toothbrushes for you, your kids, and your pets and also have their own biodegradable floss (which comes naturally waxed). Eventually, they also want to sell their own brand of toothpaste that comes in biodegradable plastic tubes.
Ok, can we just pause for a minute and appreciate the fact the humanity is cool enough to even think of inventing biodegradable plastic? Science is so cool.
While exciting as this is, I still had a few questions about bamboo toothbrushes. What are the bristles made of? Are they dentist approved? Can you recycle ALL of the toothbrush? Is it affordable?
The answers?
The bristles are plastic like the other store toothbrushes, except they are recyclable with your other plastics. It just requires some plier pulling to separate the bristles from the stick and then you can use the wood for something else. If you are sighing about how having to do one more thing is ridiculous, let me remind you that retirement and the usual resulting inactivity will kill you. Having some tiny, regular things to do keeps you active and alive longer. Enough said.
Woobamboo claims they are dentist approved. It's always hard to really know the answer to that. According to the video I previously mentioned, there were no dentist complaints about her use of bamboo toothbrushes and homemade toothpastes, but I doubt she's downing the thousands of pounds of sugar the rest of America is consuming from their trash packages. Considering that, she might not even need a super powered toothbrush and fancy fluoride pumped paste to keep her purely whites buffed and well.
As for affordable, one Woobamboo toothbrush runs at 3.99, a four pack for 15, and a family pack for 17.50. Which is still a lot cheaper than the 6-12 dollar single toothbrushes you could find on Amazon. Now I know you've seen the 1.99 brushes at your grocery store, I have one, and admittedly, they aren't the best out there. You get what you pay for I guess.
I'm excited to see what else people can come up with. I expect to see a lot of cool innovations to wow me for the next fifty years.
I've already discussed extensively why less stuff is just good overall for your general sense of well being and your wallet. How about we talk about less trash?
What do you think of when you think of the waste we throw out in a day?
This is what I can list without pausing: peels, packages, floss, tissues, nails, hair, damaged goods, food boxes and bags, dvd cases, sanitary stuff, empty lotion, cream, chemical, cleaning bottles, paper towels, fast food waste, messed up tape, Saran wrap....and I stutter to a stop there.
Bascially, I always believed trash was a thing and would always be a thing, like death, or taxes.
Then I found this YouTube video posted by Seeker Stories in April of 2010, which interviews a woman who only has one tiny mason jar of trash to show after two years of life. She doesn't even own a proper trash can.
How does this even happen? Especially in a society that the video claims throws out 4.3 lbs of trash per person per day?
Well, as the title of this video proudly proclaims, "You Can Live Without Producing Trash." The video then demonstrates how by choosing only the biodegradable, or living without, you can extremely reduce your waste (possibly, by increasing your laundry and travel expenses to composting sites, but hey, there are always sacrifices in this war against pollution).
The thing that caught my eye though, was the toothbrush.
It's bamboo. Like legitimate, food for fuzzy black and white cuddly pandas bamboo.
I love this idea and its not just because it has to do with pandas. I just like the idea of using something that won't sit uselessly for the next thousand years but can be broken down and fed back into the environment that supports me. All relationships are give and take after all and to me natural stuff done right is an investment, not a luxury.
A.D.D. Moment: Someday, I hope they can invent a thing that reduces the trash already buried in landfills back to their molecular state. In a sense, reverse the landfill. Wouldn't that be cool?
So, of course I did my research and found a website called Woobamboo, and wouldn't you know their mascot is a panda? They specialize in bamboo toothbrushes for you, your kids, and your pets and also have their own biodegradable floss (which comes naturally waxed). Eventually, they also want to sell their own brand of toothpaste that comes in biodegradable plastic tubes.
Ok, can we just pause for a minute and appreciate the fact the humanity is cool enough to even think of inventing biodegradable plastic? Science is so cool.
While exciting as this is, I still had a few questions about bamboo toothbrushes. What are the bristles made of? Are they dentist approved? Can you recycle ALL of the toothbrush? Is it affordable?
The answers?
The bristles are plastic like the other store toothbrushes, except they are recyclable with your other plastics. It just requires some plier pulling to separate the bristles from the stick and then you can use the wood for something else. If you are sighing about how having to do one more thing is ridiculous, let me remind you that retirement and the usual resulting inactivity will kill you. Having some tiny, regular things to do keeps you active and alive longer. Enough said.
Woobamboo claims they are dentist approved. It's always hard to really know the answer to that. According to the video I previously mentioned, there were no dentist complaints about her use of bamboo toothbrushes and homemade toothpastes, but I doubt she's downing the thousands of pounds of sugar the rest of America is consuming from their trash packages. Considering that, she might not even need a super powered toothbrush and fancy fluoride pumped paste to keep her purely whites buffed and well.
As for affordable, one Woobamboo toothbrush runs at 3.99, a four pack for 15, and a family pack for 17.50. Which is still a lot cheaper than the 6-12 dollar single toothbrushes you could find on Amazon. Now I know you've seen the 1.99 brushes at your grocery store, I have one, and admittedly, they aren't the best out there. You get what you pay for I guess.
I'm excited to see what else people can come up with. I expect to see a lot of cool innovations to wow me for the next fifty years.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
My Biggest Struggle with Marie Kondo
Ok, I obviously love getting rid of stuff.
However, there are two deep, deep, subjects that I balk at dealing with...ever.
Most things, with years of practice and continued philosophical testing have started to come easy.
Money management, after years of practice that's easy.
Clothes, love to donate them.
Dust collectors (statues, odd n ends), VERY easy to get rid of (maybe a little too fun to smash or shoot in the desert.)
Cheap things that are easy to repurchase, why do I even own these?
As for my two worst subjects....
Books....I SWEAR, I WILL read them.
Papers....I'm pretty sure they reproduce. They are impossible to truly get rid of. Especially when I have a note of inspiration scribbled on an old receipt for a book idea that I've had.
The thing about books is I come from a book culture. My family is full of writers. My mom is a librarian. I grew up with two very tall book shelves set prominently in our living room. I've been writing since second grade. I'm an avid reader and like to quickly acquaint myself with whatever local library happens to be near by. I've always had a book shelf stuffed with books. I cry whenever I read about how the Nazi's burned books. Barnes and Noble is my happy place for spending money.
Granted, I'm not a stranger to donating books. It's just very, very, very difficult to convince myself that I will never read, re-read, or even reference a particular book. I try to think about it philosophically. Books are the absolute worst to move. They are heavy and awkward and if you're not reading them, they will collect dust. Once the knowledge or joy has been obtained, what use is it? I have a small collection currently with me and whole collection still waiting for me to sift through at my mothers house. Is it really worth it?
Yes.
Because I need them for professional reference both as a writer and as an aspiring body works expert.
What if I need reference materials when I retake certification exams?
What if this is the only reference I have to that particular inspiring myth?
It's a classic. I like to reread it.
Hello, it's The Hobbit.
I like books. I like having them. I like reading them. I like browsing my full shelf on rainy days and revisiting select passages. It makes my world complete. The only reason I'm not up to my eyeballs in books is because libraries exist.
I guess I can take comfort in knowing that I have the ability to donate books. It's just that more books than Marie Kondo would ever approve of still give me all kinds of joy. That's why, even though I love Barnes and Noble, I only visit once or twice a year.
As for papers. I do try, but I really do think they multiply. I try to revisit the subject on a regular basis for maintenance, but I'm pretty sure it's a losing battle.
We all have our struggles.
However, there are two deep, deep, subjects that I balk at dealing with...ever.
Most things, with years of practice and continued philosophical testing have started to come easy.
Money management, after years of practice that's easy.
Clothes, love to donate them.
Dust collectors (statues, odd n ends), VERY easy to get rid of (maybe a little too fun to smash or shoot in the desert.)
Cheap things that are easy to repurchase, why do I even own these?
As for my two worst subjects....
Books....I SWEAR, I WILL read them.
Papers....I'm pretty sure they reproduce. They are impossible to truly get rid of. Especially when I have a note of inspiration scribbled on an old receipt for a book idea that I've had.
The thing about books is I come from a book culture. My family is full of writers. My mom is a librarian. I grew up with two very tall book shelves set prominently in our living room. I've been writing since second grade. I'm an avid reader and like to quickly acquaint myself with whatever local library happens to be near by. I've always had a book shelf stuffed with books. I cry whenever I read about how the Nazi's burned books. Barnes and Noble is my happy place for spending money.
Granted, I'm not a stranger to donating books. It's just very, very, very difficult to convince myself that I will never read, re-read, or even reference a particular book. I try to think about it philosophically. Books are the absolute worst to move. They are heavy and awkward and if you're not reading them, they will collect dust. Once the knowledge or joy has been obtained, what use is it? I have a small collection currently with me and whole collection still waiting for me to sift through at my mothers house. Is it really worth it?
Yes.
Because I need them for professional reference both as a writer and as an aspiring body works expert.
What if I need reference materials when I retake certification exams?
What if this is the only reference I have to that particular inspiring myth?
It's a classic. I like to reread it.
Hello, it's The Hobbit.
I like books. I like having them. I like reading them. I like browsing my full shelf on rainy days and revisiting select passages. It makes my world complete. The only reason I'm not up to my eyeballs in books is because libraries exist.
I guess I can take comfort in knowing that I have the ability to donate books. It's just that more books than Marie Kondo would ever approve of still give me all kinds of joy. That's why, even though I love Barnes and Noble, I only visit once or twice a year.
As for papers. I do try, but I really do think they multiply. I try to revisit the subject on a regular basis for maintenance, but I'm pretty sure it's a losing battle.
We all have our struggles.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Writer's Block
This post is for all of my creative people out there.
Creation is awesome.
We love to dazzle the crowd with every brush stroke, every word, and every note. To the people who don't share our talents we look like wizards pulling genius moments out of star covered caps. To them, it seems as effortless and easy as breathing.
Oh how little they know.
You fellow artisans know about the suffocating pains between each brilliant moment. The times when we aren't wizards and the magic is simply out of reach. It is a terrible time when the world is either too busy, too stressful, or there is simply not enough inspiration there to allow for creation.
It is the pain of these times that makes the healing moments of creation so magical.
Yet, when you are stuck in a creation-less rut, how do we get back to doing what we love?
It's not simple, and every artist is as unique as their chosen medium. Yet here are a few things that might help should you find yourselves stuck.
Take A Risk
Artists are people who are already willing to experiment and take risks so I recommend trying different things to stimulate the creative well. Do something new. Go on a special vacation that allows you time to experience rather than just go through the motions. Or, take a "sick day" that allows you the time to go and find what normally inspires you.
Revisit What Works
This one requires a certain amount of self-awareness. Most artists can tell you about the moment of creation, but some find it hard to recall the moment before. The set of circumstances that sparked the creation in the first place. Go back in time. What inspired you to start last time? Was it observing people in the park? Playing with kids? Trying a new recipe? Something triggered the creativity. Find out what it was and then recreate those circumstances.
Find A Model
There is a saying in the artistic community. If you want to master your craft, you first need to learn about the masters. Read about them. Study them. Try to copy them. Learn how they did it. Even if historic figures didn't do exactly what you want to do; knowing how they did it and knowing what was good about it can give you focus for what it is that you want to do.
Make Time
I know this advice is worn out. It's annoying when people imply that you can pull more time out of hat with enough faith and belief. We all know simply wishing for more time does not put more minutes in a twenty-four hour day. What those people are really saying is that you can sacrifice your least needed things for this important thing. The reason why you don't hear people using those words is because telling people to give up something isn't a good selling pitch.
It is true though, that people don't always spend their time wisely. A little schedule reorganizing and reduction of wasted time, and you may find a spare hour you can dedicate to creation. If your schedule is simply too busy to allow for it, then maybe this is not the time of your life to create. However, I feel like if not creating is making life totally miserable, then it really is ok to change things up. Get a different job. Reduce the demands on your time. Put first in your schedule what matters the most to your over all life goals. Then, when the time is available, be careful to not waste it. You worked hard to get that time. It'd be a shame if it was spent on a temporary show you kinda like but won't remember watching come next year.
That's all I have for you today.
Good luck my fellow creative people!
Creation is awesome.
We love to dazzle the crowd with every brush stroke, every word, and every note. To the people who don't share our talents we look like wizards pulling genius moments out of star covered caps. To them, it seems as effortless and easy as breathing.
Oh how little they know.
You fellow artisans know about the suffocating pains between each brilliant moment. The times when we aren't wizards and the magic is simply out of reach. It is a terrible time when the world is either too busy, too stressful, or there is simply not enough inspiration there to allow for creation.
It is the pain of these times that makes the healing moments of creation so magical.
Yet, when you are stuck in a creation-less rut, how do we get back to doing what we love?
It's not simple, and every artist is as unique as their chosen medium. Yet here are a few things that might help should you find yourselves stuck.
Take A Risk
Artists are people who are already willing to experiment and take risks so I recommend trying different things to stimulate the creative well. Do something new. Go on a special vacation that allows you time to experience rather than just go through the motions. Or, take a "sick day" that allows you the time to go and find what normally inspires you.
Revisit What Works
This one requires a certain amount of self-awareness. Most artists can tell you about the moment of creation, but some find it hard to recall the moment before. The set of circumstances that sparked the creation in the first place. Go back in time. What inspired you to start last time? Was it observing people in the park? Playing with kids? Trying a new recipe? Something triggered the creativity. Find out what it was and then recreate those circumstances.
Find A Model
There is a saying in the artistic community. If you want to master your craft, you first need to learn about the masters. Read about them. Study them. Try to copy them. Learn how they did it. Even if historic figures didn't do exactly what you want to do; knowing how they did it and knowing what was good about it can give you focus for what it is that you want to do.
Make Time
I know this advice is worn out. It's annoying when people imply that you can pull more time out of hat with enough faith and belief. We all know simply wishing for more time does not put more minutes in a twenty-four hour day. What those people are really saying is that you can sacrifice your least needed things for this important thing. The reason why you don't hear people using those words is because telling people to give up something isn't a good selling pitch.
It is true though, that people don't always spend their time wisely. A little schedule reorganizing and reduction of wasted time, and you may find a spare hour you can dedicate to creation. If your schedule is simply too busy to allow for it, then maybe this is not the time of your life to create. However, I feel like if not creating is making life totally miserable, then it really is ok to change things up. Get a different job. Reduce the demands on your time. Put first in your schedule what matters the most to your over all life goals. Then, when the time is available, be careful to not waste it. You worked hard to get that time. It'd be a shame if it was spent on a temporary show you kinda like but won't remember watching come next year.
That's all I have for you today.
Good luck my fellow creative people!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Refocusing on Tiny Lifestyle and the Dangers of Stuff
Next to dreaming about the children's book I'm illustrating and the YA novel I'm perfecting, I love to dream about someday living in a tiny house.
The thing I love most about the tiny life style is the simple, freeing, economics. I am a single millennial who grew up in a home that promoted thrift. Since entering the adult sphere I've also learned that just because you have full-time work you are not guaranteed to do/buy whatever you want.
And I'd always believed my parents were saying "no" just for my moral character.
This, among other adult lessons I've been learning, is why the cheapness and freeing aspect of tiny house living is just so appealing to me. Anything that increases your capacity to save, while decreasing your financial stress has to be a good thing.
I'm not in a position to build a tiny house yet, but I do try to live the lifestyle in my apartment situations. This does not make me infallible though. If there is a lesson to be learned in my recent life, it's this. If you value security, then avoid environments that promote a "stuff culture."
The seductive allure for stuff came to me because I had moved into a stuff environment. When I first moved, I had a solid growing budget and the few belongings I managed to fit into my ancient Subaru was plenty for me. Then, I moved into the apartment. You'd expect a stuff oriented apartment to look like an episode of hoarders, this was not the case. This is was the other kind of stuff environment where possessions were few, but expectations and tastes were high. It was beautiful with matching furniture and designs that would make a fashionista drool. The smooth, clean appearances and alluring smell of candle wax made it seem like the perfect apartment. What I didn't know, was that beneath the fog of wax, lay a budget devouring serpent that demanded lavish offerings.
The culture of keeping up appearances is a stressful one. I knew I wasn't totally happy and that I couldn't jive with my roommate. In the end it really came down to a difference in values. As each month past, all the comments started to wear on me. Topics about appearances and the need to "look nice." Continual requests to be quiet when closing the toilet seat to avoid advertising the embarrassing fact that even girls use the toilet. How who owned the most stuff or more of the contract was used as a lobbying tool for apartment rules. Demands that all things bought for the apartment must be first approved by my roommate. The constant stress of needing to appear put together and upscale was making the apartment anything but. Underneath it all, was the glaring truth that it was just a facade that none of us could afford.
Not knowing any better, I tried to fit in. I hate black, but the Walmart black furniture was the only affordable kind that was easy to match. Normally, I would have trolled the thrift stores for wooden constructs from the 70's, but I had this indescribable need to "match" with the apartment. Maybe, I thought if I looked like I fit in, then I would feel comfortable there. I even bought candle wax because I was worried my room didn't smell as good as the rest of the house and I didn't want to smell obviously human. The hungry stuff serpent bit me every time I went grocery shopping. I had this unusual desire to buy things I could buy then, but not afford long term like candle holders, fancy mirrors, cardboard quotes, and other useless items that only served as decoration. My roommate once bought a cardboard quote for our bathroom when we had been without a trash can for a month. Why? This didn't make sense to me. I felt like I was in this limbo world where needs and wants were standing on their heads.
It took me four months to realize how much my roommates attitudes and anxieties were affecting my spending habits and personal sense of well-being. I have no other word for the environment, but toxic. It was like a really nice looking hell populated by gremlins who look like Jim Henson's stuff lady puppets from the Labyrinth.
Thankfully, the contract was loose enough that it was more of a month to month agreement. As soon as I heard there was a vacancy elsewhere I jumped for it. My roommate couldn't believe I was willing to risk my deposit and just leave rather than stay and wait until I could find a replacement. She couldn't understand how much my freedom from that place was worth more than the $200. That's how different our values were.
My new apartment is organized chaos. The furniture doesn't match, but we recently got a giant elbow leather couch for just $100. It's a little messy, but comfortable, and it doesn't stink of candle wax. Within one hour of moving in, I felt welcomed and at home.
The sudden move reminded me about how one of my goals this years was to NOT buy stuff. I wanted to always be able to move easily and the current amount of stuff I own just wouldn't allow for it. The two pieces of furniture I justify because I had always planned to discard it once I moved states again and/or built a tiny house. Had I not moved, I probably would now be broke and have three or four pieces of furniture. Since moving into my new apartment, this is the first time I'd even recalled needing bookshelves. Which I don't.
My point. Stuff is attractive and your environment will largely dictate how you react to the "need" for stuff. If you find yourself in an unhealthy environment that compels you to buy stuff you don't need or can't afford, it may be time to re-asses the issue. What needs to change? Is it a manipulative roommate? It is a family member who has an unhealthy attachment to getting things? Is it the people you hang out with, or the neighborhood you live in? I never want to be in a "keeping up with the Jones's" environment ever again. I don't know how people do that for years. Those four months were exhausting enough.
The thing I love most about the tiny life style is the simple, freeing, economics. I am a single millennial who grew up in a home that promoted thrift. Since entering the adult sphere I've also learned that just because you have full-time work you are not guaranteed to do/buy whatever you want.
And I'd always believed my parents were saying "no" just for my moral character.
This, among other adult lessons I've been learning, is why the cheapness and freeing aspect of tiny house living is just so appealing to me. Anything that increases your capacity to save, while decreasing your financial stress has to be a good thing.
I'm not in a position to build a tiny house yet, but I do try to live the lifestyle in my apartment situations. This does not make me infallible though. If there is a lesson to be learned in my recent life, it's this. If you value security, then avoid environments that promote a "stuff culture."
The seductive allure for stuff came to me because I had moved into a stuff environment. When I first moved, I had a solid growing budget and the few belongings I managed to fit into my ancient Subaru was plenty for me. Then, I moved into the apartment. You'd expect a stuff oriented apartment to look like an episode of hoarders, this was not the case. This is was the other kind of stuff environment where possessions were few, but expectations and tastes were high. It was beautiful with matching furniture and designs that would make a fashionista drool. The smooth, clean appearances and alluring smell of candle wax made it seem like the perfect apartment. What I didn't know, was that beneath the fog of wax, lay a budget devouring serpent that demanded lavish offerings.
The culture of keeping up appearances is a stressful one. I knew I wasn't totally happy and that I couldn't jive with my roommate. In the end it really came down to a difference in values. As each month past, all the comments started to wear on me. Topics about appearances and the need to "look nice." Continual requests to be quiet when closing the toilet seat to avoid advertising the embarrassing fact that even girls use the toilet. How who owned the most stuff or more of the contract was used as a lobbying tool for apartment rules. Demands that all things bought for the apartment must be first approved by my roommate. The constant stress of needing to appear put together and upscale was making the apartment anything but. Underneath it all, was the glaring truth that it was just a facade that none of us could afford.
Not knowing any better, I tried to fit in. I hate black, but the Walmart black furniture was the only affordable kind that was easy to match. Normally, I would have trolled the thrift stores for wooden constructs from the 70's, but I had this indescribable need to "match" with the apartment. Maybe, I thought if I looked like I fit in, then I would feel comfortable there. I even bought candle wax because I was worried my room didn't smell as good as the rest of the house and I didn't want to smell obviously human. The hungry stuff serpent bit me every time I went grocery shopping. I had this unusual desire to buy things I could buy then, but not afford long term like candle holders, fancy mirrors, cardboard quotes, and other useless items that only served as decoration. My roommate once bought a cardboard quote for our bathroom when we had been without a trash can for a month. Why? This didn't make sense to me. I felt like I was in this limbo world where needs and wants were standing on their heads.
It took me four months to realize how much my roommates attitudes and anxieties were affecting my spending habits and personal sense of well-being. I have no other word for the environment, but toxic. It was like a really nice looking hell populated by gremlins who look like Jim Henson's stuff lady puppets from the Labyrinth.
Thankfully, the contract was loose enough that it was more of a month to month agreement. As soon as I heard there was a vacancy elsewhere I jumped for it. My roommate couldn't believe I was willing to risk my deposit and just leave rather than stay and wait until I could find a replacement. She couldn't understand how much my freedom from that place was worth more than the $200. That's how different our values were.
My new apartment is organized chaos. The furniture doesn't match, but we recently got a giant elbow leather couch for just $100. It's a little messy, but comfortable, and it doesn't stink of candle wax. Within one hour of moving in, I felt welcomed and at home.
The sudden move reminded me about how one of my goals this years was to NOT buy stuff. I wanted to always be able to move easily and the current amount of stuff I own just wouldn't allow for it. The two pieces of furniture I justify because I had always planned to discard it once I moved states again and/or built a tiny house. Had I not moved, I probably would now be broke and have three or four pieces of furniture. Since moving into my new apartment, this is the first time I'd even recalled needing bookshelves. Which I don't.
My point. Stuff is attractive and your environment will largely dictate how you react to the "need" for stuff. If you find yourself in an unhealthy environment that compels you to buy stuff you don't need or can't afford, it may be time to re-asses the issue. What needs to change? Is it a manipulative roommate? It is a family member who has an unhealthy attachment to getting things? Is it the people you hang out with, or the neighborhood you live in? I never want to be in a "keeping up with the Jones's" environment ever again. I don't know how people do that for years. Those four months were exhausting enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)