The "But if you didn't work that other job, you'd have more time for your art, right?" question has some parallels (more geometry) to Jennifer Breheny Walllace's book "Never Enough." She focuses on how the achievement culture impacts mental health. For example, why don't you do more, more, more with your art?, which can make you feel like you aren't enough.
So true! I think the do more, more, more with your art mentality also really sets you up for burnout, too. Thanks for the book recommendation (and the added geometry talk)!
This reminds me of the way Glennon Doyle describes integrity--when your outside actions match your inside values or voice. Love the way you turn your essay into a meditation--I'm going to be rereading this one.
So true- love this connection between congruence and integrity. I think there is an integrity inherent in living your values. (And OMG, please feel free tie my work to Glennon's work anytime, LOL!). Thanks for reading, and re-reading!
I love getting reacquainted with this word. I appreciate how you've unpacked it a bit. On the idea of having a few lines ready when asked "what are you doing?" my sister recently gave me a great line. "I'm taking a gap year." - lol! Looking back, I never took that mythical "backpack through Europe" year and jumped right into earning a paycheck after college. There's a little part of me that loves the permission in that statement. Of course, it would invite follow-up questions.... thank you, Mary Chris.
Oh! I love the "gap year" response. I think it's one of those concepts that has gotten associated with a particular age/stage of life, but when you think about it makes so much sense at ANY time in our lives. A year of self-discovery and new experiences-- yes please! And you are right, it would invite follow-up questions, but hopefully that would open up space for you to talk about the projects you're working on and experiences your having. Plus, a great redirect or follow-up would be to ask the other person what they would do with a "gap year."
The "But if you didn't work that other job, you'd have more time for your art, right?" question has some parallels (more geometry) to Jennifer Breheny Walllace's book "Never Enough." She focuses on how the achievement culture impacts mental health. For example, why don't you do more, more, more with your art?, which can make you feel like you aren't enough.
So true! I think the do more, more, more with your art mentality also really sets you up for burnout, too. Thanks for the book recommendation (and the added geometry talk)!
This reminds me of the way Glennon Doyle describes integrity--when your outside actions match your inside values or voice. Love the way you turn your essay into a meditation--I'm going to be rereading this one.
So true- love this connection between congruence and integrity. I think there is an integrity inherent in living your values. (And OMG, please feel free tie my work to Glennon's work anytime, LOL!). Thanks for reading, and re-reading!
Thanks for the little shout out Mary-Chris
You’re so welcome! 😀
I love getting reacquainted with this word. I appreciate how you've unpacked it a bit. On the idea of having a few lines ready when asked "what are you doing?" my sister recently gave me a great line. "I'm taking a gap year." - lol! Looking back, I never took that mythical "backpack through Europe" year and jumped right into earning a paycheck after college. There's a little part of me that loves the permission in that statement. Of course, it would invite follow-up questions.... thank you, Mary Chris.
Oh! I love the "gap year" response. I think it's one of those concepts that has gotten associated with a particular age/stage of life, but when you think about it makes so much sense at ANY time in our lives. A year of self-discovery and new experiences-- yes please! And you are right, it would invite follow-up questions, but hopefully that would open up space for you to talk about the projects you're working on and experiences your having. Plus, a great redirect or follow-up would be to ask the other person what they would do with a "gap year."