Alas, 2023 is over. What a year.
While admittedly anxious about geopolitics and the environment, I am also optimistic and completely thankful for my slice of life. I’ve been awed by the beauty of India, Japan, Oregon and California this year, made some new friends, spent quality time with old friends and family, and learned a lot while I was at it.
After so many years as a rolling stone of sorts I am still in the process of integrating my experiences and figuring out exactly who I am in a professional sense, but I anticipate entering the sphere of creativity very soon (if I am not already there). This is the year of putting myself out there. I guess deep down I’ve known who I am for a long time, but for the sake of diversifying my experiences and being a student of the world, my output has been limited.
We humans like to simplify things, but life does not go in a straight line, as much as we might expect it to or hope it does. For better or worse, a life is not so clearly defined, especially when you have every intention of making your own way.
I’ve been journaling off and on for years now, but now I’ve decided to make my thoughts public. If it’s out there for everyone to see, I can’t pretend I didn’t write it. It’s a way of holding myself accountable. An added bonus is that other people can take what they will from it. Hopefully it proves helpful to someone.
In this blog I intend to recount my experiences and memories, to post some photos of my travels, and to unveil my creative projects. It’s also a place for me to think “out loud”. Seeing how it’s the beginning of a new year, I thought I’d begin with some intentions:
- Don’t be a perfectionist. Make it good enough. When it starts to take longer, finish it.
- Put more work online. Establish an online presence which truly aligns with who you are as an artist.
- Leave time to breathe, and be graceful about it.
- Animation, UX/UI, Typography, Blog. These are the big four for this year. (Coming full circle on my roots, more on that later.)
- Make time for friends and family. Savor those experiences.
- Eat well and exercise amply; have fun while doing so. Enough said.
- Write and draw more, with the intent to show at least some of it to the world. No more fear of exposure.
- Hustle harder always. These dreams won’t manifest themselves without hard work. Prolificacy over perfection, done is better than perfect.
- Prioritize self care. Without balanced physical and mental health there is no hustle. Stay rested.
- Make time for silence. Hopefully one hour, ideally two, at least fifteen minutes. Meditation makes everything else easier.
- Live for the world you want to live in. Conforming to archaic visions of what life should look like will not make the world a better place. Don’t be afraid to do things differently.
- Go where you flow, do what you need to do to stay inspired.
- Engage life, live actively and intentionally. Zone in, or else rest.
- Read more, watch less. Active consumption over passive consumption. Be a life long learner.
- Spread love as much as possible.
There might be a few more, but this sums up my hopes for the coming year. I’m reminding myself that I’ve put in a lot of work getting to the point where I am, and though I may not have too much to show for it yet, I know I am capable of whatever I put my mind to.
More to come.
Cue Looney Tunes Theme.
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