School Did Us Few Favors
At the time, I wanted to be successful and well-liked. This led to a very uncomfortable transition into my career, as today's employers look for intuition, instinct, and independence. These were never cultivated in school, and the opposite was rewarded.
Learning to Love Mistakes
Instead of ignoring this fear, can I muster up as much excitement to fail as I do to succeed? If I've learned anything in my creative life, mistakes should thrill us just as much—if not more!—as accomplishments.
Audience-First? Maybe Not
But as an individual, if I truly want to sell myself, I have to be myself. Writing for an audience (alone) forces me to lose myself.
It's Harder Than Ever to Be Yourself
Because that's what it takes; that's the secret that no one's sharing: There is no secret. You must roll up your sleeves and make mistake after mistake, learning how to be yourself and trust yourself in the process.
Being Future-Minded Hinders Your Creativity
How do you write about your life experiences if you're not present to experience them? The sensations and lessons of your everyday life—yes, even your failures, mistakes, and stressors—fuel your writing.
My Favorite Books of 2020
In 2020, I didn’t read as much as I’d hoped (TV was far too tempting on those wildly stressful days), but books were still a helpful and educational companion—most notably these four.
Break Your Habits to Keep Them
I've always had an interesting relationship with the new year. I'm thrilled for a fresh start, but I can never let go of that voice in my head telling me I'll likely break my resolutions ... so why try? This year, I'm breaking them willingly.