Go To Your Happy Place

Let’s face the reality that these are dark times. The only way to survive is to be aware of the dangers, but never let them steal your peace or joy. If they do, they win.

Image courtesy of Lucas Lorizio via Scopio

The most important form of resistance is not letting them upset your equilibrium. Yes, you should be outraged and afraid; this is really happening. The way I’m navigating my mental health is by expressing my feelings and thoughts through writing. Go to your art, music, books, films, and TV, like we did in the pandemic. Go to art. It may be the only thing that can save us.

We should still be laughing; make sure you are laughing enough. I’m serious.

Be around the people you love, and notice the love.

Immerse yourself in things you love. Limit your exposure to the news. Be informed but not obsessed.

I’ve lost myself in writing because that is one coping mechanism I have. I wrote so much during the pandemic as well.

Maybe this is the time when my real work begins. If you notice, my writing is playful and also very serious. This is sometimes intentional. But mostly it is just the ebb and flow of life.

I think if you read my blog now and then, you may be wondering why I don’t post for ages and then suddenly post like a maniac. Your guess is as good as mine. The muse is a very elusive angel; she comes, she goes, while she is here, I am inspired. While she’s away, I meditate on life or just hang out, whatever you want to call it. 

I think I found the muse again because I needed her right now.

I’m actually sick right now, so I’m not making myself do the normal worky type things like looking for jobs and working out. So here I am, on the page. And I have to say, I love it, I really do. I’ve written many times about writing, and I will probably never stop. 

What inspires you?

What is inspiration after all? I mean, I’m old school, I actually think it is the universe contacting you and you tuning into it. Michael Cunningham said once in a seminar he gave at my grad school that no one possesses genius; it is in the air, and some people tune into it. I would add that they tune into it some of the time.

I am by no means suggesting I am tuning into genius thoughts; these are everyday, ordinary observations, but I feel this spirit in me rising as I express how I feel and what I think. I think writing, art, music, etc., are spiritual practices along with being crafts. That’s just my opinion.

Find your spirituality right now. If that’s not your thing, then find your thing.

I am not so good at the craft part of writing; my grammar can be atrocious. Sometimes there is no coherence in my prose, and I randomly ramble from one topic to another without explanation. And I’m sure I have more flaws, I’m aware of that. 

But I don’t let that stop me from doing what I love. You don’t have to be perfect or even good at something; just do it if you love it. I sing, I’m an okay singer, but I’m by no means talented. But a day does not go by that I don’t sing my heart out. I can’t draw or paint to save my life, but I’m thinking of dabbling in abstract art.

The idea that you need to make your art a commodity is a capitalistic lie. Just do it. If you are good or even decent, maybe people will listen to you, hear you, or see you.

Maybe you are good, and they still can’t see it; that is the plight of the artist, it comes with the muse in a package. People are not always quick to recognize beauty, but continue nevertheless. 

Do your work. This is the time. The payoff is in the work itself. I’m sitting here, on my laptop, just enjoying myself, musing, singing. Sometimes I dance when I write, that’s when the good stuff really comes out. The rhythm. Art is not just an expression of life, but it is life itself. 

Image courtesy of Facebook

Music, dance, poetry, literature, film, and even TV are all part of life and an expression of life. You know, when we were in the pandemic, people realized who they needed. The artists. A lot of that time was spent living in art because commerce had shut down. We need all of this again.  

And we all know that quote from Dead Poets Society, "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” Go on with your bad self, Robin Williams. May you rest in peace. 

Poetry is a very intense, high form of art. I do it now and then, I haven’t written poetry in ages, and I would like to begin again. I shared my writing with a man on a dating site, and he told me there was music in my prose. That was quite the compliment that I carry with me. 

Maybe there is music in the way you laugh, and poetry in the way you cry. Maybe you are a phenomenal drama queen and can take any moment and turn it into a Broadway scene. Maybe you are talented in ways you don’t even recognize. Your personality, the way you drink your coffee, it is all art. Your being, your self, is beauty. And love.

I know, preach on, sister, is what you may be thinking. Or shut up and stop this madness, is what you may be thinking. Either way, I enjoy this very banter. See, this is a one-way conversation; you don’t get to talk back to me. I just get to pour my heart and soul out, and if you want to listen, then so be it, and if you don’t, then so be it.  

Because conversation is one of my favorite things to do in life, I’m starting a podcast with some friends. It will be displayed on this blog very shortly. I hope it makes you laugh, think, and maybe even cry if it fits the moment. Most of all, I just hope you have a good time with it. As good a time as we are having creating it. 

And let the force be with you, and the muse and all of the universe. For I know that you are beautiful, see it, be it.

I know you will carry on…be happy.

nina