relax | Join Us Down The Illness Rabbit Hole

Over the last little while, my output both in writing and doing my assorted creative projects have slowed down. In addition, I find myself not worrying so much about re-starting the various things that I set out to bring back, at least not at this time. Hell, even my output on this site has slowed down considerably over the recent months. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit to feeling at least a twinge of guilt and sorriness in not doing these things. After all, I prided myself into jumping back in feet-first with a heavy-duty routine doing various things, when I felt the time was right.

But moreso in place of guilt and sorriness, I have actually felt a sense of easiness and pride recently. I let what I loved doing entrap me, so much so that at times, I couldn’t do the things I enjoyed without worrying over a deadline or a commitment or a meeting or whatnot to tend to. But now that I am running my own race at my own pace, I find that the creative projects I continue with come much easier and much more effective and productive when not stuck in a box.

As I’ve alluded to in several blogs in the past, I have a penchant for taking on many things at once, so much that it makes the wheels of my mind bog down in the sand and muck and I wind up stuck in place, not being able to go forward or backward, just being crushed by the weight of all that has piled on top of me. It’s took a lot of learning and getting used to, but running at a slower and more calculated pace with a lighter load on my shoulders has reaped major benefits for me.

For the first time in months, I can actually do the things I enjoy doing, without having to worry about having enough time for them. I can play my guitar as long as I want, I can tackle my broadcast media time capsule project and add to it whenever I please, I can go for long, slow walks in the late autumn sunlight whenever.

Though getting back into what I did before is on my mind (and will happen in a not-long amount of time), I can sleep better at night knowing that those creative flames will simply WARM me, without them CONSUMING me. Through the help of friends, therapy and a higher being/beings, I have accrued needed wisdom in my ever-evolving life as a creative. Before, I couldn’t see the trees for the woods. But now, after a long, occasionally arduous but always healing time, I am learning how to balance work and play, and how to love both simultaneously.

I hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving ahead, and in the comments, talk a little bit about you learned to balance work and play, and what you have learned in slowing down at times!

As always, much love & may God richly bless,

-Jon

Many times in our lives, especially this time of the year, we often catch ourselves hung up on all that has transpired over the last year, or looking ahead to what may be coming in the new year. We may fret over projects we have completed, or a job opportunity that passed us by, or deadlines and commitments. I am not above this, either. Quite frequently over recent days and weeks, I have found myself worrying over friendships, partnerships, when to commence recording music, when to start writing my first poetry book, plus starting therapy soon, getting my ducks in a row for a potential move in the new year, taking care of my new feline friend Vidalia, amid many other things. It can get to be a slog. Until seven words cross my mind. Seven words that immediately put my mind at ease. Seven words that is a saying, one that my dear friend and musical co-creator Kim Ware taught me to abide by:

In this very moment, everything is OK.

I will repeat: In this very moment, everything is OK.

These seven words have become a big help to me lately. It helps me center and focus on the now, instead of worrying about what I should have said or done in the past, or worrying about what the future might hold. I can apply these seven simple words to heart and use it to see the good that is around me at this time: I have a cat for the first time in over two years. I am starting therapy, the first part of a brave, new leg of my journey. I have confirmation that a poem of mine will be published in a physical book. I have a head full of creative ideas. In this moment, I am listening to a podcast and doing something I love doing, blog-writing.

In this very moment, everything is OK.

Never has seven words been so freeing to me like these seven are. Anxiety has always been a bear for me to whip, and so too FOMO, the fear of missing out. But these things cloud my view of life, and as a result, it makes me not see the trees for the woods. Taking in the good around me, the glory in front of me, the sights of my dearest friends, co-conspirators and creatives stepping up to the plate and crushing home runs in their endeavors-and the fact that I’m here to watch it and cheer them on!!! It’s a blessed, refreshing and welcome feeling. Too long I have spent in the midst of fear, uncertainty, the hungry, biting wolverines of my yesterdays and the grim, brooding specters of tomorrows.

I’m alive.

I am six feet above the ground.

I am surrounded by some of the best people a man could ever ask for.

Is every day red and rosy? Not by any stretch of the imagination, but by taking in the good and filtering out the bad in my life, I can see that today isn’t so bad. Nor is it fleeting and forgettable. Every day that I wake up and see the sunrise is a blank canvas, my opportunity to make a masterpiece out of it. And I intend to create many, many masterpieces in my time. ❤

I hope this blog finds you well, and in the comments, tell me about something positive that happened to you today, and how you savor the little moments of your day!

As always, take care, much love, and may God richly bless,

-Jon