I force things. It’s probably my third-favorite hobby, after reading and remembering the eighth-grade slow dance when my crush said, "your arms are heavy."
Just ask my family. I’ve proclaimed "WE’RE HAVING FUN!" so often that I’ve been permanently banned from the phrase.
I get nervous: I so badly want things to be enjoyable, that I try proclaiming it into existence. Thinking that maybe if I force it, good times will be had, do you hear me?
Recently, I realized how much I’ve been doing that with my creative work. Telling myself "I’M HAVING FUN!" when I’m doing things I think I should enjoy, but maybe…don’t.
Like posting to Instagram. Something I—like many creatives—often feel obligated to do, in order to prove and/or promote myself. To be clear: I am not anti-social media. I know lots of creatives who enjoy it and do it well, and I support them. I want to be more like them.
But the more I use Instagram, the more I fry my tender little nervous system. I wish it weren’t that way. I tell myself, "This is what creatives do! We share our work and WE HAVE A GODDAMN BLAST DOING IT!" And I force it until I end up not feeling great and can’t figure out why.
A few weeks ago, I was listening to Mike Birbiglia’s podcast. He mentioned that growing up, his dad often guided him by posing this question: "But are you having fun?"
That spoke to me. Maybe it was time to stop proclaiming it, and start asking it instead. I’ve decided: if it’s my own creative work, then it has to pass the test:
Is it—really and truly, no should-ing myself—fun?
And if the answer is anything but "YES"?
Then me and these heavy arms are getting in the invisible jet and moving on.
📥 Input! 📥
• A fascinating profile of the most recognized woman in advertising
• Adoptable cats + model trains = such a brilliant idea for a restaurant
• Only one episode in but so far, loving this cringefest
• Didn’t know much about him going in, but vastly enjoyed this Albert Brooks doc (thanks, Matt!)
• Nailing #22, trying #47, and for-sure skipping #70 from this nice little list
• Do not pet that dog (or miss the remix)
• Agreeing, eyeballing it, and staying dim at all costs (Note: I’ll miss the oddball jokes, but it’s time for me to get off Twitter. Hoping I can find some gems on Threads. Fingers crossed!)
• Finally:
I happened to read this today, which is my sister’s birthday. I celebrated her this morning by posting a picture of the two of us in our Wonder Woman Underoos.
I miss my wonderwoman underoos. Can we please have a grown-up version?