thank you, kathryn

Kathryn, my rep from Tidepool (Brooke is the other fabulous one) posted this quote by Paulo Coelho for me a few months ago. It's simple and true, especially in a business where you are constantly faced by creative and financial setbacks. I've always struggled with the idea that there is an "end" to our efforts, like someday we will magically be at our destination that we worked so hard to get to. There is no end, and there is no beginning; just a path, and the most important part about your goal is what you do on your journey to reach that goal. Because 'goal' in a sense, is very abstract. When we reach "it", it's no longer there, and we create a new reason to strive and struggle again and again and again.

Published by
Paulo Coelho
on November 13, 2008
in Q&A

Q: If you were offered one of your dreams to come true, what would you prefer?

A: "I don’t like to think of “being offered” a dream. I’ve learnt that this is a pointless fantasy. Reality is rather on the side of those that know that they have to “fight for their dreams”. My personal legend has always been to become a writer. I’m glad I can say that i’m fulfilling my dream. But this must not the interpreted as “the end of the line” – on the contrary – I have to commit everyday in order to stay in this path that I’ve chosen. One is constantly challenged – even by success."

france - 1982

In the new year I have been focusing on the task of cleaning house. All the time. I'm not talking about just dusting here and there, I mean I see something out of place in my office and everything around that particular item or piece of paper or photo has to be pulled, examined, rearranged, touched up, replaced, dusted, cataloged, or just thrown away. I have a collection of old odd photos that I find at flea markets, vintage stores, or just hand me downs, and as I was on a cleaning tirade, I found my favorite photo of me when I was little, which was mixed in with my anonymous photo collection. It was a lovely discovery and made my day. I love it because it reminds me of being comfortable and innocent. I don't care that I'm standing next to a cute dead rabbit (which I assume we ate for dinner), I don't care that my clothes are big and mismatched. I was so lucky to be standing there next to my dad's friend's gardener at that very moment and I didn't even know it. I was happy and little and free with the best parents in the world that took my sister and I to France every other summer and drove around Europe in a little Peujeot. What I would give to be little again, just for one day.

Ira Glass explains the importance of editing your work and killing a boring story

This is a fantastic commentary by Ira Glass (an award winning radio producer) about the power of editing. He has amazing stories and in my hours and hours in the car I often find myself leaning closer and closer to my ipod in anticipation of what's going to happen next. It really makes me wonder why in the past I pushed some projects so hard when deep down I knew that I should have killed the idea right off the bat. If it doesn't feel right, kill it. This leaves more room for better stories, projects, etc. to emerge and for one to be even more creative and get out of the toxic cycle of being mediocre.