In several recent conversations, I brought up the current framework through which I make decisions. Here’s what it looks like. Start from the top and go down, filtering thoughts and actions through each level until the last one…where you go back up again, an endless cycle that purifies and clarifies as it moves forward in…
Be a True Poem
I came across the following quote two weeks ago, from John Milton’s Apology for Smectymnuus: “…He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things, ought himself to be a true poem; that is, a composition and pattern of the best and honourablest things; not presuming to sing high…
Easy Goodbyes
Sam Tompkins’ “Die For Someone” has a beautiful line that made me think: Guided, I’m misguided Wasting my time with easy goodbyes Many relationships make up our everyday interactions with people around us. The cashier or barista you met earlier today. Online customer service agents. The local church congregation. That group of friends you’re going…
Pleasure Without Prior Self-Organization
The original title for this post was “On Masturbation”. Nothing sexually explict; but do proceed at your discretion. I have been thinking about pornography and masturbation the past few months, and the many forms they could take on different levels of a person’s being–all of which lead to antitheses of life. I’ve heard it said…
The Right to a Right
You do not desire something until you understand what it takes to achieve the object of your desire. It goes further. You do not truly desire something unless you’re moving toward achieving it. Inaction leads to stagnation, the death of true, honest desire. Desire drives all human thoughts, words, and actions. When desire remains only…
Tests
Remember dat speeling test u tok in graid skool? You do? You probably didn’t pass it the first time then, if the above sentence actually made sense to you. But that’s beside the point. About that test—oh yes. It wasn’t real. Nor are all other manmade ones. Each test that’s known, explained, or prepared for…
The Poetic (and Ironic) Nature of Life
Yesterday, the last article I’d write under my own name for a client was published. It’s the third part of a blog series on “Generative AI: How to Use It To Be Productive…But Not Lose Your Soul” from Freedom Matters. This blog series is now a cornerstone project for my freelance writing portfolio–a fitting ending…
Scared of Being Okay
One thing scares the living daylights out of my soul as a creator, and that’s being okay. Or having my work described as “average”, or “nice”, or with such other platitudes. It might as well be unimportant, insignificant, worthless. It might as well be discarded—or better yet, never been made—if it isn’t something another soul…
Order and Originality
A month or so ago, I came across a quote by Gustave Faubert, which goes like this: “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” I’m not sure if this correlation between one’s approach to regular life and approach to creation is true for all…
Too Alive?
I used to be afraid of being viewed as too philosophical. Or too extreme. Or too unconventional. Or too emotional. Or too whatever. As if “too” was an objective stamp of shame, instead of the infinitely subjective and personal concept it is. What more does it mean than imbalance? And isn’t life made possible by…