Self-portraits and reflection
morning advice to myself and anyone reading this
When ideas escape you, go for a walk. When walking and struck by inspiration, walk a little longer. There is often a second big idea a little further down the trail.
When ideas find you, write them down.
Defining your taste is not very different from building self-esteem. Take time to articulate what stuff you like, to yourself.
When you find something cool, show at least one person.
When you encounter something cool online and notice the creator is not well-known, leave a comment or like. Cultivate the habit of telling people when you enjoy something they did or made.
Be a librarian of at least one thing. Explore at least one of your curiosities deeply and point others who share that curiosity the right way.
The internet is a great place to build a home. Many people treat the internet like a place they can only visit. And these days it increasingly feels closer to Times Square than Greenwich Village. But you can actually find a nice neighborhood and start building a home there. Have a personal website, a blog, or a YouTube channel where you get to choose the aesthetic and feel of the place. Don't just rent a little grid from Instagram or Tik Tok.
A second cup of coffee is worth the jitters and often, even the insomnia.
Revisit an old routine, favorite genre, or piece of art. Often it will feel brand new after years of new experiences.
When you watch a film, tv show, play, or read a book... discuss the experience and content of the art with at least one person (even if that is yourself through writing). Consumption without reflection is exhausting. Reflection is the crucial step.
I think it is time to start shuffling analog ways of relating to one another and culture into our digital lives. Find one thing you love that does not involve a phone or computer, ideally something social.
Collect something: questions, art, vinyl, shoes, books. Having at least one collection makes you pay attention to the world a little more closely and makes the connections between things more obvious.
Try things without expectation.
Have at least one ambition in your life at any given moment. Do not be ashamed of taking things seriously.
If you can, find a way to frame things positively. Especially humanity and our collective future. Be very weary of convincing others (especially those younger than you) to be less optimistic.
Be very aware when you are voicing someone else's script. As often as you can, ask yourself, "do I believe that?" or "have I earned the right to believe that through careful consideration?" or "why might that be wrong?"
Whenever your instinct is to dismiss, first look more closely.
Make some form of art often. Little poems, bad drawings, and trivial photographs lift your mood and often bloom into larger things.
Ask the people you care about how they are feeling.
Always make time for the work you ought to be doing.
Check in with your former selves from time to time. Work to understand the continuity between your past and present selves.
