The Thrill of Consistency
Collage #1: I’m not chasing anything. I’m just running away from something else.
I have a bad habit of chasing down temporary dreams & desires.
Ask me and I’ll just tell you I’m passionate. About everything! Sometimes.
New dreams are like vials of craft glitter in the store, unopened.
All the things I could do, I think.
Catch me caffeinated on a Wednesday writing to-do lists and emails I’ll never follow up. Whipped up, I’m in a dream of all the could-be versions of my future selves.
The truth is when I get like this, only 1 out of 5 times do I strike gold.
The truth is, most of the time I’m not chasing anything. I’m just running away from something else.
A feeling of boredom. A project that’s reached the messy middle. A much-needed overhaul of something that’s stopped being fun.
Example: I’ve been writing this newsletter since 2022. Started with a rush of enthusiasm: digital collages, essays and song demos about geology, creativity, anything that ran into my head with flags waving. Dips happened sometimes but I kept it up. Through writing I found new friends. It was fun.
Seasons of ‘A Constellation’ came and went. I developed a rigid schedule. Then I went freestyle. Then I worked so hard to keep everything going but as the album began to become more demanding of my time, writing became less interesting. Promotion feels like walking through treacle.
The car slows down. The dog (moi) stops chasing. Other cars look… shiny.
Hey Olivia, chase a radio show. Hey Olivia, chase a new podcast. Hey Olivia, chase a Patreon. Chase, chase CHASE!
🌠 The Thrill of the Consistent Plod
The hardest thing to do sometimes is just stick with what you’ve got. Especially when it feels like it’s boring or hard or not working.
I know that consistency is the real magic, but it’s a plodding march. It’s not a chase.
What I always forget is that The Thrill of the Consistent Plod happens, too. It arrives at unexpected times. Similar to a crack in a dam, the water rushes out in seconds after years of small movements.
Suddenly you remember why it’s work sticking with what you’ve already got.
Bye-bye, A Constellation?
I think I’ve outgrown this current configuration of this newsletter. But we’ve got a good thing going, here. All it needs is a few changes, a touch of paint.
Stay tuned.
✨🎲 Olivia
🌈 Want more?
listen to my music on Spotify and add it to your playlists
forward this newsletter to a friend!
or, subscribe:
Ahhhhh! Now I get the Twisters reference. And the poem is soooooo good. Your newsletter is actually the only one, I really read and look forward to. Maybe I only subscribe to boring people... haha.
I feel you :)