Remember when the book Chicken Soup for the Soul was the moment? Only my readers of a certain age will remember those days but the explosion of soups for various souls was all over the place.

Has any human ever been free of an era of self-help advice or unfettered optimism? I feel like that 90s era was so full of the productivity and self help boom. But maybe it only felt like that because that was my most influential era?

Remember Steven Covey? The palm pilot? Successories?

I absolutely love the unhinged optimism and complete absurdity of the concept of a successory. It’s such a corporate vibe. Walking down a liminal hallway and you’re greeted with giant words and photographs of decontextualized nature scenes.

LEADERSHIP!

MOTIVATION!

DETERMINATION!

I would love to time travel to the bland corporate building space where the team came up with this ENDURING concept. The screen grab is from the actual company where you can shop motivational posters today!

Maybe the optimism feels so much like a moment in time because we’re in the dystopia of of the 2020s and nothing really calls attention to optimism like a stark contrast of despotism to help illuminate that which is the current flavor of our times. I’m not saying there wasn’t despotism in the 90s, it just felt a little further away from the US and my critique of empire was not nearly as honed.

I know, I know, pessimism is the opposite of optimism but I’m really feeling the eliding of that concept, so sue me. (Another 90s phrase that we really don’t hear too often anymore… have we become TOO litigious that you don’t even need to sarcastically offer that up to a hater?)

Anyways, I am not a pessimist. In spite of the very real reasons to have pessimism in these times, I remain hopeful, (sometimes joyful), and have faith in goodness prevailing. Maybe this too is a product of the 90s. Geez, what if my worldview is crumbing in front of your very eyes?

I kid, I kid.

The whole point of this long intro is that I am attempting to share I am not super busy in the studio on any looming due dates because I have been super busy in the clinic. I’ve been going to Physical Therapy, getting another injection in my back, fighting for my right to get insurance to cover said injection, paying off the growing thousands of dollars in medical care to tend to the back issue… all while trying to maintain my typical visits to my wonderful acupuncturist and all the other daily human householder duties. Next week is the end of my 7week PT session thank goodness - I can get hours of my week back.

Despite my typical optimism, I went in kind of pessimistic about the PT. Mostly because last time I was there (probably around 2021 or so) I was paying some dude the privilege of being walked around an indoor track. Apparently he was really into the physical part of PT. Perhaps that bad attitude led to my current therapist to focus more on the therapy aspect. I’m happy to report after a shaky intake we have since found a way to get along.

Neither of these PT experiences have been balm for my soul. But PT isn’t billing itself (hahaha or my breadwinning spouse’s health insurance) as soulful.

Today as I was laying under the undulations of the tens machine massaging the nerves of my lower back I noticed a vinyl sign on the wall -

“YOU ARE AMAZING” it yelled at me “remember that” in a different font underneath.

Huh, I thought to myself.

A different motivational adage.

I did not feel amazing. And the “remember that” felt a little intense.

But it did have me questioning my original premise of whether or not our optimism has been diminished in this era. The PT cube says otherwise!

What would a PT for the soul look like for you? For me, it’s a sustained yoga practice, with all the limbs getting some love. Regardless of what it looks like for you, PT for the soul is probably really important in these times, and especially if you’re trying to access your creativity.

I booked a show later this year in Fergus, sold a painting somewhat unexpectedly, applied for three grants/residencies, and somehow managed to go to PT.

So, whether it’s something physical or therapeutic you’re turning to in these times amongst all the other things going on, let me be the one to remind you, YOU ARE AMAZING! remember that.

Until next time, keep your souls fed with chicken soup!

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xo,