When I was a kid, I had a really hard time actually doing anything- colouring, crafting, playing with dolls- because once I chose something, I cut myself off from the possibilities of the unchosen. This was a paralyzing thought.

Tiny Sophie would think: "Okay, so you're telling me to get all my crayons out and colour for a bit, and then what? I'll have a little drawing, and I'll have to clean up all my crayons, and life goes on. What’s the point?" Looking back, this may have been the start of my lifelong struggle with depression.

Humans in general are obsessed with that which is potential, because it's so much easier than the actual. Thinking about writing a book is easy! Dreaming about your Broadway debut takes no effort at all! Turning potential energy into kinetic, however, is difficult in a number of ways.

First of all, and most obviously, doing things is harder than not doing things. Secondly, that pesky ontological trap from childhood comes up and snaps at my heels. "What about all the things you're not doing?" it whispers.

I am a person who wants to do so many things. I think a lot of you can probably relate to this, seeing as you're here with me. I want to be a movie star, write books, play music to vast audiences, paint masterpieces, and dance. And that's only my five-year plan. But where does one start??

The answer is anywhere. The answer is: start!

Choose a thing, and- here's the rub- continue choosing it every day. Dreaming is a fun, and necessary, place to start. But if you live in your head, you have no skin in the game. Acting upon desires requires risk, which is the key ingredient for any tangible reward. Taking steps in a direction, one foot in front of the other, opens up so many more doors than it closes.

Another lovely thing about potential is that it's endless! Unlike, say, human lives.

Superimposing our future trajectory onto an infinite canvas is fun and freeing, like any detour around considering mortality. The fact remains that the only reason we ever do anything of note, or anything at all, is because eventually we will die.

Happy Tuesday! ⊹ ₊ ⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ ♡˚₊‧⁺ ₊ ⊹

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Have you listened to Ghost Ship yet?? Check it out :)

• TORONTO! I’m playing a show with Kelly McMichael on July 2 at the Cameron House. Tickets here.

• ANNAPOLIS VALLEY! I’m playing Valley Pride this Saturday, June 20 in Kentville. Tickets here.

• HALIFAX! On September 2 I’m opening for Chris Garneau at the Sanctuary Arts Centre. I’m SO looking forward to this show- it’s going to be dreamy. Tickets here.

xoxo