Recently hung a mirror in the studio and caught myself as light cut through this afternoon. I figured this would be a good time to reflect on now.
The close of a year is always dense. I’m knee deep in many projects — more than a schedule should allow — and trying really hard to bounce around and bring my A game to each. It’s whack-a-mole, but I’m riding a wave of some unusual ‘I got this’ vibe, using all the tools collected over the years to perform, I hope, admirably.
A big part of this boost might be having a studio space that feels dedicated to creativity. While some of this shift in energy is a way to acknowledge the world will go forth as it does, I must find ways to go forth as I do.
I’m articulating boundaries.
Admitting mistakes easily.
Listening more intently.
Pushing back where I see issue.
And accepting the nature of things.
I’m also carving out more time for personal projects, finding myself most at ease and energized by playing* without requirements. This is largely possible due to a shift in consumption:
Containing news intake.
Whittling social network hopping.
Dialing back non essential notifications.
By doing so I’m leaning more into:
Honing systems to capture ideas (more visual note taking, both analog and digital).
Reaching out to folks on whim.
And making time to be present.
* by playing I mean opening up a blank document and pasting a quote to explore type, drawing shapes, sketching in a notebook, learning new features of programs, or simply writing stream of conscious — all with no intention of an end product, but sometimes seeing one emerge.
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Usually these ‘now’ updates include some media of the moment. There’s not much to report:
- I’ve been practicing tsundoku (making piles of books) and not reading any devoutly — just dipping into chapters of whichever is nearby.
- Also not playing any video games.
- Usually watching a television program over dinner. Current rotation: A Man on the Inside (okay) nd What We Do In The Shadows (superfun).
- Trying to go out to movies more.
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That’s all for this now, here are some previous nows or many nows of others.