Tell me more about the things you don’t do.
Greetings.
Herein you shall find: a script for a dialogue with the universe, encouragement to do things you don't do, and a post script with a charming and roguish dare.
Alex
Thusly starts the script:
Me, addressing the powers that be:
I’m not a musician.
I don't like editing video.
I don’t really dance on video.
I’m not an entrepreneur.
The Powers that Be:
OH REALLY?
Tell me more about the things you don’t do.
Me:
We’re almost 2/3 into the first week of 2021 and so far, I’ve invited a friend to jam on her cello with me, started learning harmonica and bodhran, filmed and edited a short mashup of me solo dancing to Sam Smith’s “Another One” (which is a jam), and continued building out a game plan for... business number two?
The Powers that Be:
Oh. Right. So those are the things you don’t do. What about the things you do do?
Me:
Hah. You said doodoo.
The Powers that Be:
So. They’ve got jokes.
Me:
Yep.
The Powers that Be:
What if, theoretically, you got to the point.
Me, turning to the audience:
Um. Well. I guess if there are things you don’t do, maybe you just haven’t found a fun way to do them yet? And perhaps it’s actually less energy and more fun in the long run to let things be neutral, rather than tossing them behind The Wall of I Hate It or into The Swamp of I Do Not Do That.
When I found pieces of the things I didn't do that I was curious about, or found fun, I found out that I could do them. The trick's to love a piece of the process until you can’t help but love the whole more, and bigger.
So yeah.
If you want, tell me about the things you don’t do. Tell me what would have to change to turn them into things you do do (hah) or at least feel neutral about. See if there are any cool YouTube videos about them.
The funnest things are often the ones you feel really drawn towards, but there’s some kind of funky wall in the way---sharp guitar strings, software that doesn’t jive with your brain, old mental models of who a “thing doer” is.
What’s that secret niche talent you wish you had? Feats of stretchy strength? Another language? Calligraphy? Guitar? Painting? Being able to make a really good grilled cheese? Créme brûlée? Knowing where the accents go, for sure, on brûlée? (Scrivener had to correct me.)
The only difference between you and a person who does a thing, is doing the thing.
And you can do the thing however the heck you want.
Do it wacky, do it weird, do it simple, do it hyper-specific and repetitive.
Go play.
Love,
Alex
P.S. I have a dear friend who regularly says “Good things happen when you quit,” whenever we're pondering being done with something, and moving onto the next. And that is gospel truth.
I have another friend who reminded me, astutely, that “Not doing things takes energy.” Things that you haven’t quit, that you know you want to do, ought to do, shall do eventually---they're just energy sinks until you do them. And doing a tiny bit of a thing, often gives you energy to keep going.
It’s not that you need motivation to do things. It’s that you often need to do small things to get motivation to do bigger things.
Write one word. Move one box. Eat one bite. Tie one shoe. Do one dish---or just like---even just turn on the water in the sink so you’re not sticking your hands into Cold Foodwater (TM) after having told yourself “imma just let that soak” and then leaving it for 5 hours. Not that I’ve ever done that.
Make your life nice for yourself.
If you’re a person, like me, who prides yourself on being nice, and helpful, and a good friend to people---take a moment to remember that
...you’re a people.
Be nice to you, too.
If something feels to big. Do onething.
I dare you. Did you do it?
Yeah?
*rogueish, proud-of-you grin*
Well done.