8.20.2013

6 Ways To Make Sure You Don't Hate Your Life.

It's been awhile & for that I am sorry. Mainly to myself because this blog is mostly for me to remember what was going on in my brain when I look back. Today I came across this video of a speech from Neil Gaiman and boy am I glad I did. I know that I am fortunate to be in love with what I do everyday, to (at times) be making things up as I go along, and to be making good art. I think it's important to make adjustments to your life if you don't like something...it's ok to make your own rules or to find your own way. 

If you wake up hating or dreading what you do everyday I challenge you to get up in the morning, put on a pot of coffee and make a list of the top 5 things you enjoy doing. Things that bring you the most joy. Then marinate on ways you can spend a majority of your life doing those things and surviving. I know what some of you might be thinking...I've heard it before: "that's a fairytale life, Steph" "I have kids or a significant other I have to support" "I need an adult job that pays the bills I don't have time to do things that make me happy for my career. That's all uncertain and unpredictable. I just need a normal job." I read this quote from Ellen once that stuck with me and ultimately was the catalyst for me handing in my resignation letter: "Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." If that sums you up (like it did me at the time) and you are happy with it then press on friend and keep doing what you're doing! But if the thought of that makes you cringe in your bone marrow...make a change.

You only get one shot at life...could be 20 years long or 80 years long. Make it a good one that you're proud of and do your best to make it something you actually enjoy.

"I tended to do anything as long as it felt like an adventure and to stop when it felt like work. Which meant life did not feel like work."


"Make interesting mistakes, break rules...make the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art."