This was incredibly heartwarming. I often fence myself off in fear of people thinking I'm too much. I love the illustrated web of tryhards and I think any artist can see themselves in both areas. It allowed me to self reflect on how I show up in my art practice. Thank you! <3
Thank you for this lovely comment Soren, so thrilled to hear it helped you reflect—that's what I'm here to do :) That fear of being witnessed is real but the fear of letting ourselves down is greater, which I need to keep reminding myself as well.
I've never vocalized my dream of writing/being creative. Probably because of a fear of judgment from my peers. And I could also identify with being "closed up", reserved, which we don't tend to associate with "creative". So my dream is to slowly show my creativity, and be more comfortable with that term.
That being said, I'd really love to read your book! :)
Thank you for sharing your dream with me 🫶 it's a beautiful one that I deeply relate to! And many creatives are shy, which is why they let their souls blossom through their art :) your newsletter posts are great, and you're already doing it!
I fantasise about publishing a short story collection and eventually a novel but reading this made me realise I’ve never owned or vocalised these dreams. I also struggle with being seen ‘trying’. Thank you for this.
Fatima, so proud of you for vocalizing these dreams here! The first step helps us take the next one, and the next :) Those are such beautiful dreams and I fully believe you can do it 💛
I'm a proud creative tryhard from now on. A few people mentioned to me that I try hard to be kind as being excessively kind 🤔 which hurt me like does people think i am faking being kind?! I don't know what's wrong with being kind to others 🥺 thank you Carolyn so much for this post, my heart felt it like a hug 🤍
I love this post! It certainly is all about the effort and being comfortable working hard. Compost is my muse for my photography and metaphor for life. Who knew, showing up one bucket at a time, that I'd process 13 tons in 13 years?
Looking forward to learning more from you about Zines! Glad I found you through Anna Brones.
Currently a tryhard evolving as an abstract / experimental photography and exploring the life and career lessons of my journey from command and control of work to curious and conscious creativity.
This was incredibly heartwarming. I often fence myself off in fear of people thinking I'm too much. I love the illustrated web of tryhards and I think any artist can see themselves in both areas. It allowed me to self reflect on how I show up in my art practice. Thank you! <3
Thank you for this lovely comment Soren, so thrilled to hear it helped you reflect—that's what I'm here to do :) That fear of being witnessed is real but the fear of letting ourselves down is greater, which I need to keep reminding myself as well.
I would LOVE to read an illustrated book about creativity by you! Sounds amazing!
yay Melissa, that means the world! will reach out to you at some point for some early feedback :)
brilliantly beautiful
thank you 🥰
I've never vocalized my dream of writing/being creative. Probably because of a fear of judgment from my peers. And I could also identify with being "closed up", reserved, which we don't tend to associate with "creative". So my dream is to slowly show my creativity, and be more comfortable with that term.
That being said, I'd really love to read your book! :)
Thank you for sharing your dream with me 🫶 it's a beautiful one that I deeply relate to! And many creatives are shy, which is why they let their souls blossom through their art :) your newsletter posts are great, and you're already doing it!
I fantasise about publishing a short story collection and eventually a novel but reading this made me realise I’ve never owned or vocalised these dreams. I also struggle with being seen ‘trying’. Thank you for this.
Fatima, so proud of you for vocalizing these dreams here! The first step helps us take the next one, and the next :) Those are such beautiful dreams and I fully believe you can do it 💛
I'm a proud creative tryhard from now on. A few people mentioned to me that I try hard to be kind as being excessively kind 🤔 which hurt me like does people think i am faking being kind?! I don't know what's wrong with being kind to others 🥺 thank you Carolyn so much for this post, my heart felt it like a hug 🤍
Ahh Teresa! Being kind is great 🫶 and I’m sorry to hear people have made you doubt that. Thank you for sharing this vulnerably!
Yay to Creative Tryhards and I love that this lesson came to you from such a niche experience!
My dad use to always tell me, "If you want to be great, you don't have time to try and look cool." This was in reference to basketball but it stuck.
Learning how to share my art with others was a whole other lesson that is being solidified each week I hit publish.
Love that quote from your dad. So many good athlete<>artist metaphors that I thought about while writing this too! Especially after the Olympics.
I have to work to not make those comparisons every week lol
Loved this! As a fellow tryhard, this way to reframe the term is so liberating!
Thanks Christina! Yes it’s so freeing 🫶🤘
Excellent article! I commend you!
I just happen to read this opinion article on NY Times that fit's in so well:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/opinion/emotions-feelings-intelligence.html?unlocked_article_code=1.DU4.ZiJr.RgFUKb86cPe5&smid=url-share
Oooh, thank you Lisa! David Brooks writes so wonderfully about these topics—great read.
I love these dreams for you. And thank you for all your work translating for the k-pop community 😄
big dreams! haha i thought it was so fun back then 😅 now machine translations run the world
I love this post! It certainly is all about the effort and being comfortable working hard. Compost is my muse for my photography and metaphor for life. Who knew, showing up one bucket at a time, that I'd process 13 tons in 13 years?
Looking forward to learning more from you about Zines! Glad I found you through Anna Brones.
Love this message!
Currently a tryhard evolving as an abstract / experimental photography and exploring the life and career lessons of my journey from command and control of work to curious and conscious creativity.