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motivation

The Ups and Downs of Knowing Your Limits

It’s been months since my last post. I haven’t really felt like I have anything to say, or if I do, it’s in the form of a song or a story. And I promise, there’s movement on the album and the novel. But recently I realized I did have something I wanted to say, and it wasn’t going to fit neatly into either format. So here I am, back in the blog. My younger self didn’t know what my limits were. She would go running… Read More »The Ups and Downs of Knowing Your Limits

Spark

I’ve been reflecting on my creative output over the last year. Yes, we put out an EP and we planned and executed a release event. But as far as writing, which I consider kind of a core aspect of my personality and sense of self, I only wrote about 30 non-EP blog posts, and I don’t think I finished a single new song. Not to say my creative self didn’t get any exercise, between putting together arrangements and recording and rehearsing and performing, but it’s… Read More »Spark

Upheaval

They say (somebody said, at least) that “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” In fact, I think no plan survives contact with anything outside the brain of the person planning. Sometimes my plans are dashed to bits before they even leave the relative safety of my own mind. This is why, despite great plans laid carefully time and time again, I am somehow still not exercising regularly. Exercise is one of those things that is supposed to be so good for your mental health… Read More »Upheaval

Change in the Weather

It’s that time of year again, the time when the weather blows right past the temperatures that I actually find comfortable and enjoyable and on into summer heat. This year, the predicted highs of the week1 have me thinking about something different. I’d say maybe it’s because this was already on my mind, but to be honest, this preoccupies me quite a lot and has for as long as I can remember, so I don’t know what has tied it to the weather this year. What… Read More »Change in the Weather

Shoulds and Shame

In my experience,1 therapists hate “should” statements. I’ve been pondering the concept of shame lately, and how it is not very helpful. For the sake of a common definition, let shame be a negative emotion (or collection of emotions) that hits you when you realize you are doing or thinking or being something that you shouldn’t. It can be triggered from the outside, by cruel words, a look of disgust, or laughter. It can be triggered from the inside, by habit, by a memory, or by analysis. The key… Read More »Shoulds and Shame

Cancelled

I do not like to cancel plans; I find it extremely stressful. On the other hand, once something is cancelled, especially when someone else has to cancel our plans, it can feel like a relief. My default state is Not Doing Anything, and hauling myself out of that is almost always difficult, regardless of how much I actually do want to Do Something. As a result, finding out I actually get to keep Not Doing Anything when I thought I was going to have to… Read More »Cancelled

Visual Timer

A couple of months ago I bought myself a visual timer. Visual timers are basically what they sound like. Once set, they give a visual cue as to how much time is left before they go off. And it is so much easier to get an idea of how time is passing when you’re using one. I love my visual timer. It’s pink, which, well, obviously that’s a good thing. And the timer part is red so it has kind of a Valentine-y feel that I rather… Read More »Visual Timer

Battery Saver

It was Adam who recognized the state we were in. “We’re living in Low Power Mode.” It’s true. Some pretty basic tasks have been disabled to save power for the things we can’t survive without. But unlike a phone, we can’t just plug ourselves in until we’ve charged enough to leave Low Power or Battery Saver Mode. Humans are more complicated. I wanted to do a quick roundup of the things that keep a human battery charged, in my non-expert opinion, and see where I’ve… Read More »Battery Saver

Love It or Hate It

I have a complicated relationship with my voice, which I don’t think is uncommon among singers. In fact, I think a complicated relationship with your skills and talents is not uncommon regardless of what they might be. Sometimes I love my voice. I can hear power and strength, softness, tenderness, clarity. I can hear all the work I’ve put into learning how to use it. I can hear the emotion I’m trying to convey. And I really, really love it. Other times I hate my… Read More »Love It or Hate It

Can You “Just Do”… Anything?

I planned this for very many months, this blog. I (eventually) wrote nine posts as a buffer, but (also eventually) there came a time when I had to start posting. Which meant writing new things every week. Needless to say, I am not completing new posts at quite the rate I post old ones. Why not? It’s not for lack of topics, I came up with a list of 60 before I ever started writing. Nope, I’ve got ideas, I’ve got time, I’ve got a… Read More »Can You “Just Do”… Anything?