First: excellent, timely essay. Second; this is a lesson i must teach myself, almost every day.
I’m getting better at…doing the thing, even if i’m neither ready nor qualified, wearing the “Dior Jacket”(Godzilla dress) -adopting the ill-advised breed dog (and loving him with all i’ve got), replying to texts, letting go of old hurts, protecting my space, and doing what i can today for my coworkers because in the bullshit situation we’re currently in, they are what makes it worth hanging in there and we are all fucking struggling.
I used to save up stickers as a kid to use on special occasions, they stayed untouched and i never got to use them because i was saving them for a future me
I always look at my stuff and feel very sorry for it if I'm not using it. Like Andy's toys, things want to be played with and loved through use. Excellent post. Live the life you have now.
Lessons there I need to remind myself of too. I think I too am getting better at it, but I still have things that I save and hold onto that I'd enjoy far more by just using them in the present.
when you make every day the special occasion, your life becomes EPIC... waiting for the special occasion is scarcity mindset. Now I don't just have leather, I have snake skin, and alligator, too.
new writer here and looking to support everyone!! :)) i just published my first article about the tension between Didion's control and Plath's raw failure, you can find the piece here!!
As a young mother I read a quote "the work will wait while you show the child the rainbow; the rainbow won't wait while you do the work" I remember it hitting so hard. I was always so stressed with making sure the house was clean, the laundry folded, the beds made... That single quote changed me, and wouldn't you know, a rainbow appeared that very same week! Empty nesting now, and the only one remaining from my original family, this is how I live - I know all too well no tomorrows are guaranteed.
This is wonderful! I love fearless honesty- especially born from exciting epiphanies. I don't save the best of my things for anything. I devour my possessions and use them for their intended purposes. I do avoid taking action on my ideas - even when I take the time to record them. I decided recently to stop that, and to do whatever I want - whether I feel ready or not. Thank you for this essay. I love it.
It really is hard to let go of harsh self discipline when all that was taught to us is “work hard and you’ll reap the fruits”. Yet nobody ever said anything on how to spot the moment where you can enjoy things. When it is “enough” work to stop and cherish what you have now.
I think that the opposite trap is also right around the corner, that of never resting and turning these acts of small rebellion into another performance. But what’s the right balance?
"I had stolen a piece of my own future joy and spent it in the present. It felt like a crime, and it was utterly exhilarating." - I've always thought that there's something magical about procrastination. Knowing there's something else that you're *supposed* to be doing somehow makes whatever you decide to do instead all the more delicious.
this was incredibly well written and exactly what I needed to hear!! thank you, might go dig up all of those stickers I've been saving
First: excellent, timely essay. Second; this is a lesson i must teach myself, almost every day.
I’m getting better at…doing the thing, even if i’m neither ready nor qualified, wearing the “Dior Jacket”(Godzilla dress) -adopting the ill-advised breed dog (and loving him with all i’ve got), replying to texts, letting go of old hurts, protecting my space, and doing what i can today for my coworkers because in the bullshit situation we’re currently in, they are what makes it worth hanging in there and we are all fucking struggling.
I used to save up stickers as a kid to use on special occasions, they stayed untouched and i never got to use them because i was saving them for a future me
I always look at my stuff and feel very sorry for it if I'm not using it. Like Andy's toys, things want to be played with and loved through use. Excellent post. Live the life you have now.
A really well written piece.
Lessons there I need to remind myself of too. I think I too am getting better at it, but I still have things that I save and hold onto that I'd enjoy far more by just using them in the present.
Excellent writing.
Excellently written and much needed at this time. I actually haven’t been able to keep my emotions intact since reading
when you make every day the special occasion, your life becomes EPIC... waiting for the special occasion is scarcity mindset. Now I don't just have leather, I have snake skin, and alligator, too.
new writer here and looking to support everyone!! :)) i just published my first article about the tension between Didion's control and Plath's raw failure, you can find the piece here!!
https://substack.com/@moonandyou/p-180154069
As a young mother I read a quote "the work will wait while you show the child the rainbow; the rainbow won't wait while you do the work" I remember it hitting so hard. I was always so stressed with making sure the house was clean, the laundry folded, the beds made... That single quote changed me, and wouldn't you know, a rainbow appeared that very same week! Empty nesting now, and the only one remaining from my original family, this is how I live - I know all too well no tomorrows are guaranteed.
After my dad passed I started using everything I was saving for "special occasions".. why wait? Just use it. Loved this post!
Truly glad I found this read. I've been working on reminding myself of this lately. One of the main reasons I am here. Beautiful piece.
loved reading this!
This is wonderful! I love fearless honesty- especially born from exciting epiphanies. I don't save the best of my things for anything. I devour my possessions and use them for their intended purposes. I do avoid taking action on my ideas - even when I take the time to record them. I decided recently to stop that, and to do whatever I want - whether I feel ready or not. Thank you for this essay. I love it.
like my mother never turning her mobile phone on in case the battery ran out. 🤔
took her years to get over that fear
It really is hard to let go of harsh self discipline when all that was taught to us is “work hard and you’ll reap the fruits”. Yet nobody ever said anything on how to spot the moment where you can enjoy things. When it is “enough” work to stop and cherish what you have now.
I think that the opposite trap is also right around the corner, that of never resting and turning these acts of small rebellion into another performance. But what’s the right balance?
"I had stolen a piece of my own future joy and spent it in the present. It felt like a crime, and it was utterly exhilarating." - I've always thought that there's something magical about procrastination. Knowing there's something else that you're *supposed* to be doing somehow makes whatever you decide to do instead all the more delicious.