Lifestyle: Annie Fay Blog

Learning Curve

6/3/2018

Lately I have felt frustrated trying to decide what I want to be doing with my life. Yet, the question I keep circling back to is: Why do I feel so rushed to figure “everything” out??

Humans are innately programmed to fulfill desires and we notoriously compare our accomplishments to others. I know that personally I have experienced measurable growth over the past year and comparison makes my successes feel insignificant. Many of my friends just completed their sophomore years learning at universities while I spent the year learning in my own way through experiences. To say that one of these paths is unequivocally better than the other isn’t helpful to anyone.

For me, learning to travel on my own, learning what it means to be in a loving relationship, and learning about children’s literature and illustration has been important to my personal growth. I am moving at the pace that’s right for me and even if that means feeling confused or stagnant on occasion, eventually everyone will end up at a similar destination.

In considering my feelings this week I wanted to include abridged versions full of wisdom from previous blog posts in which I’ve explored topics including decision making, identity, and comparison.

Feelings In Motion

It’s easy to get caught in your own spiral of emotions. But that’s all it is. Emotions. Take control of your surroundings and your sense of self. Separate the boundaries between your existence and the rest of the world around you and remember that you’re just a small piece of the universe. I think that by making a conscious effort to live presently we have a restored capacity to reach clarity. Conflicts arise from a subconscious desire to try and either understand the past or to try and theorize about the future. Allowing yourself to accept the now as your only reality is how to be present.

Solidarity and Singularity

“We treat desire as a problem to be solved, address what desire is for and focus on something and how to acquire it rather than on the nature and the sensation of desire, though often it is the distance between us and the object of desire that fills the space in between with the blue of longing” ((Rebecca Solnit)).

In the excerpt above from “The Blue of Distance” by Rebecca Solnit she explains how we treat our wants as problems. The prospect of fulfilling some aspect of our life overpowers the nature of the desire itself. Meaning, simply, we focus on the future rather than the present. Thinking about our futures helps to propel us towards them, but it fills the space in between “now” and “then” with a sense of longing. It’s a void.

We always continue to want more. So rather than treating desire as something to solve and acquire we must first address what we already have and what we have the power to achieve each day. Thinking long term is quite limited. You have to trust your own process even if you don’t have the slightest clue where you’re headed. You have to be open to the unknown: possibilities, opportunities, experiences, people. You have to leave room for yourself: to grow and change and adapt your course of action frequently.

Spirituality, The Law of Attraction, and the Universe

“When you’re busy creating your own fulfillment, you won’t feel the need to seek it from others." - Rachel Wolchin

In my ‘Badass Women’ series, I almost always ask the girls I interview how they start their days. I hear pretty consistently that the first thing people of this generation do as they open their eyes is check their phones; scrolling through Instagram and consuming images.

Social media can be great, but it can also be a catalyst for comparison. Comparing yourself to others isn’t a healthy way to start your day. Consuming images isn’t always nourishing to our bodies, and it certainly is not part of a balanced diet. Cutting down on electronics cleanses your soul of comparison.

We look around and see this digital world of perfection. Everyone is showing the good. And while I think it's better to radiate positivity and I think that rubs off on people; honesty is important too. It is rare to find accounts that show the reality of someone’s day. Our feeds act more like a highlight reel, and while that is self-evident, it is SO incredibly easy to forget that EVERYONE else is also only sharing their best moments, and the low points HAPPEN FOR EVERYONE; they just go unseen.

By using social media less, you train yourself to become less reliant on acting based on comparison. By forcing someone else’s experience onto your own you are compositing, and authenticity is blurred by a transparent layer of replication. Comparison is the root of the issue. We invent a better, edited, and filtered world that doesn’t exist.

© Annie Fay Meitchik. All Rights Reserved. All content on anniefay.com is my own or credit is given when applicable, please do not use any of my images before contacting me above or @ anniefaymeitchik@gmail.com.

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How to Release Yourself from a Creative Funk

5/13/2018

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The sun feels insanely heavy. The same sort of heaviness your eyes feel when you are struggling to stay awake. Sometimes, counterintuitively, light can feel oppressive. Baking down on you, turning your shoulders and the bridge of your nose bright crimson by early afternoon. I am feeling weighed down.

Over the past couple of weeks I have found myself in a bit of a funk. Every creative I know experiences periods where there is a massive influx of inspiration...but what occurs outside of those moments, days, and weeks? In-betweens are extremely challenging for anyone to deal with. However, I’ve found that as an artist, being in-between jobs, ideas, or even seasons is particularly dreary. I don’t feel productive, fulfilled, or able to provide myself with outlets to express my emotions and experiences.

Many people struggle to release themselves from creative funks. A common remedy? Waiting for inspiration to strike.

That solution does not suit me, so I have spent time questioning what options exist outside of just waiting around. What choices can actively be made to expedite the creative process? How do you remind yourself of everything that has propelled you to the point you are at now?

The beauty of a creativity based career is choice. When you are composing, designing, drawing, or painting it is up to you what you want to create. Artistic abilities can be utilized in just about every field, so it can be challenging to even begin to decide how you want to use your talents.

Sometimes options over-complicate things. Caterpillars must turn into chrysalises, and butterflies and moths inevitably emerge from their cocoons. Their evolutionary process is incredibly ((and maybe sometimes enviously)) straight forward. Humans, on the other hand, have unlimited options at every single developmental stage and phase. Sometimes those options can be narrowed down by interest, talent, and ability. But, sometimes interest, talent, and ability open even more doors. When you aren’t sure exactly what you love, what are you supposed to do? When you can work from anywhere in the world, where do you go? When you love music and film and fashion and art and literature, how do you create a career that encompasses it all? How do you fill your days? How do you spend your time?

Options can be overwhelming. To get over inspirational obstacles ask yourself some questions:

What passions provide you with a sense of purpose? Fulfillment?
How do you balance and distinguish your identity from your craft?
What are you looking for?

Options can be exhausting. To release yourself from a creative funk ((instead of trying the “waiting around” method)) try out some of my tips:

Start a journal, a sketchbook, or both!!
If you already have a journal, sketchbook, or some other way you record your thoughts and ideas: review old entries.
Go to a museum, art show, concert, or other event where you will be surrounded by other people who create or appreciate art.
Read a book.
Try out a new medium.
Make a vision board.
Make use of the tools at your disposal.
Find people to collaborate with.
Make an extensive list of the things that make you happy, things that ignite a fire in your soul.
Persevere with your heart, and seek motivation and inspiration daily.

Sometimes options over-complicate things, revel in the confusion and evolve at your own pace.

Artwork by me.

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Spring Reading 2

5/13/2018

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As an artist and writer, I find lots of inspiration through reading. Reading is a simple form of escapism: with the flip of a page or the scan of a paragraph you can transport yourself to faraway cities or towering mountain ranges. I am a voracious reader and am always looking for new novels to add to my constantly expanding collection. Over the past couple of months I have read about 30 books and wanted to share some of my favorites with you this week!!

If you’d like to see other books I have blogged about in the past you can view those posts here and here.

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

Yumi Sakugawa is one of my favorite authors. She takes intrinsic meditation concepts and makes them simple, accessible, and beautiful by juxtaposing concise prose and breathtaking illustrations. “There Is No Right Way to Meditate” is a book everyone should have in their household to refer to on good days, and not-so-good days, to find inner peace and an opportunity to breathe ((even if you only have time to read a few pages)). I also highly recommend her other book, “Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe.”

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Ruiz utilizes Toltec Wisdom to empower the reader to live their best life. This books beauty comes from its simplicity. The four agreements ((1. Be impeccable with your word, 2. Don’t take anything personally, 3. Don’t make assumptions, and 4. Always do your best)) are incredibly straightforward and almost innate ideologies. Don Miguel Ruiz provides anecdotes and examples that allow the reader to truly accept and own these agreements. I highly recommend this book and think it is a truly transformative read.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The concept for this book is incredibly charming: an elderly man in France has a bookshop on a boat. Yet, it isn’t just any bookshop. He aims to prescribe books, like medicine, but to treat feelings; intangible feelings like birthday morning blues or nostalgia for childhood. This is a love story, an adventure, and a book that depicts the power of storytelling.

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I adore Fitzgerald’s use of language. I honestly never even care what story I am reading of his because I am more concerned with his diction and ability to turn words into such vivid images. This story is as beautiful as it is complicated and sad. I highlighted so much of my copy because I just love his use of words so much.

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

I absolutely LOVE reading anything that has to do with rock and roll subculture in the 1960s and 70s so I could not wait to read “Sticky Fingers” by Joe Hagan, the first biography on Jann Wenner, the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine. This book is dense. It is full of facts and incredibly cool information on people like Annie Leibovitz, Andy Warhol, and Mick Jagger. I’d equate it to reading a history book on Rolling Stone...and if you’re into that sort of thing than this book is phenomenal.

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This quick read goes nicely with the blog post I wrote this week on releasing yourself from a creative funk. Kurtz offers simple advice on how to engage your creative side, how to manage projects, and how to manage yourself when you’re feeling inspired, uninspired, or aren’t quite sure where to start during the in-between times.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Again-LOVE Fitzgerald. This book is beautiful and the jaded protagonist reaches a point of disillusionment through his boarding school experience, time at Princeton, and the tumultuous romances which follow. Fitzgerald’s writing is impeccable and so heavily intertwined with his personal life. Highly recommend reading this story and all of his other work.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

“The Mysterious Benedict Society” was by far my favorite series as a child, so I was delighted to discover that Trenton Lee Stewart had a new novel out when I was searching for books to read for my Children’s Literature courses at UCSD. As 10 year-old-me would have wanted, I had very high expectations for this story - and I was not let down in the slightest. Even as a young adult, I still am blown away by Stewart’s ability to write novels that keep you turning the pages even after 1 in the morning. The story is full of twists, turns, and adventures. The protagonist, Reuben, is incredibly 3-dimensional and feels just as real as the characters I loved as a child. The story revolves around Reuben who discovers a mysterious watch...and honestly you’ll just have to read this book to see where the story goes from there.

Make sure to comment down below any great books you’ve read recently!!

Happy reading babes.

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<<Previous

Learning Curve

Feelings In Motion

Solidarity and Singularity

Spirituality, The Law of Attraction, and the Universe

How to Release Yourself from a Creative Funk

Spring Reading 2

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

Archives

Categories

Learning Curve

​Feelings In Motion

​Solidarity and Singularity

​Spirituality, The Law of Attraction, and the Universe

How to Release Yourself from a Creative Funk

Spring Reading 2

​There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

Archives

Categories

Feelings In Motion

Solidarity and Singularity

Spirituality, The Law of Attraction, and the Universe

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa