Hi Jim 👋🏽 Once again your writing has compelled me to write to you about this very topic. I feel like you spoke and wrote so well and deeply from your heart it felt like a gift. To write at length and keep a reader interested is not easy IMO but this was beautiful and I felt blessed to be in your community.
Thank you 🙏🏽
I feel this topic is close to my heart too. I can’t imagine coming on socials in your 40s (well now I understand!) but the very things you said also related to someone who comes online, pushing past the strong resistance you talk about. I’m in my 30s and I enjoy life offline a lot. But like you I’ve been writing newsletter on Substack and recently started my YouTube channel and ofc posting short videos and posts on Instagram, all of which ofc takes time and energy!
I’ve learned to delve into the creative process of it all and I am enjoying the challenges and learnings it brings. But I do have friends who are in their 40s. Some embrace me being online. Some don’t understand.
One really commented that I should find more like minded community in real life and criticised short form media advice of sorts. It was a little hurtful but now I know it also stems from their own feelings about the online world too. Plus I am also trying to let go of the belief that doing short form “cheapens my work.”
Establishing relationships and community IRL and online - both I think take time. But what matters is we meet people who deeply care about our work and ourselves as human. So continue forth in this crazy journey 🫶🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Thank you for your beautiful response is - it's so motivating - and warming to feel heard.
I think the harder area with going online more isn't actually people you don't know - but your own friends and family.
Some support you.
But as soon as you start "going for it" there are people who just read it as sometype of ego mania or need to be heart / gain attention.
They don't understand that in the arts, there is just no other way any more.
People are used to getting songs for free.
To buy artwork is not the cultural centrepiece and staple it once was
On top of that, the economy is hitting people hard anyway.
I realised that if I wanted to continue my artistic life I had to go deeper into exactly what I was resisting - this online world.
Part of that is that you have to accept - and then let go .- the judgement of others.
I am so glad you are backing yourself - because you have so much to give. And the world needs more of this energy, message, art, creativity and input - not less.
I wrestle with the short form content side too.
It feels like its often lost in the river of content - but its is the gateway for people to come in deeper.
And though it does take time - I hear you! - i find it helps me in these ways:
1) it trains my ability to speak
2) to deliver my points more succintly
3) to package bigger ideas in a way that can introduce people to the broader eco-system of what I'm trying to do.
There is so much content out there, and, for most of us - online growth - is a slow game.
I'm concentrating as much as possible on the bits that I find fun at the moment.
And accepting that if I always try to keep up with what I "could" or "should" do - I will just burn out.
Ah, limitation is its own freedom!
Thank you for sharing yours words here - so much. And sorry for my very late reply!
You have someone supporting and believing you from afar here Win! Jim
Hi Jim 👋🏽 Once again your writing has compelled me to write to you about this very topic. I feel like you spoke and wrote so well and deeply from your heart it felt like a gift. To write at length and keep a reader interested is not easy IMO but this was beautiful and I felt blessed to be in your community.
Thank you 🙏🏽
I feel this topic is close to my heart too. I can’t imagine coming on socials in your 40s (well now I understand!) but the very things you said also related to someone who comes online, pushing past the strong resistance you talk about. I’m in my 30s and I enjoy life offline a lot. But like you I’ve been writing newsletter on Substack and recently started my YouTube channel and ofc posting short videos and posts on Instagram, all of which ofc takes time and energy!
I’ve learned to delve into the creative process of it all and I am enjoying the challenges and learnings it brings. But I do have friends who are in their 40s. Some embrace me being online. Some don’t understand.
One really commented that I should find more like minded community in real life and criticised short form media advice of sorts. It was a little hurtful but now I know it also stems from their own feelings about the online world too. Plus I am also trying to let go of the belief that doing short form “cheapens my work.”
Establishing relationships and community IRL and online - both I think take time. But what matters is we meet people who deeply care about our work and ourselves as human. So continue forth in this crazy journey 🫶🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
(PS Hope this made sense.)
All the best,
Win
Dear Win,
Thank you for your beautiful response is - it's so motivating - and warming to feel heard.
I think the harder area with going online more isn't actually people you don't know - but your own friends and family.
Some support you.
But as soon as you start "going for it" there are people who just read it as sometype of ego mania or need to be heart / gain attention.
They don't understand that in the arts, there is just no other way any more.
People are used to getting songs for free.
To buy artwork is not the cultural centrepiece and staple it once was
On top of that, the economy is hitting people hard anyway.
I realised that if I wanted to continue my artistic life I had to go deeper into exactly what I was resisting - this online world.
Part of that is that you have to accept - and then let go .- the judgement of others.
I am so glad you are backing yourself - because you have so much to give. And the world needs more of this energy, message, art, creativity and input - not less.
I wrestle with the short form content side too.
It feels like its often lost in the river of content - but its is the gateway for people to come in deeper.
And though it does take time - I hear you! - i find it helps me in these ways:
1) it trains my ability to speak
2) to deliver my points more succintly
3) to package bigger ideas in a way that can introduce people to the broader eco-system of what I'm trying to do.
There is so much content out there, and, for most of us - online growth - is a slow game.
I'm concentrating as much as possible on the bits that I find fun at the moment.
And accepting that if I always try to keep up with what I "could" or "should" do - I will just burn out.
Ah, limitation is its own freedom!
Thank you for sharing yours words here - so much. And sorry for my very late reply!
You have someone supporting and believing you from afar here Win! Jim