I want every day to be more like a YPI day.
It’s a huge request for a number of reasons. For one, I can’t ask the sun to stop turning towards the other half of the Earth. Two, how can we all be together when we have jobs, schools, projects, relationships, and families- things that need our attention and our state of mind- to take care of? For New Years this year, I make a Resolutions List for the first time since I was in high school- almost five years. Sure, lose ten pounds is kind of on there somewhere, but it mostly consists of personal projects geared towards becoming a more complete human being; summer or no summer, camp or no camp, We Jazz or no We Jazz…
Welcome to My Guide Book for Better Being in 2012.
…One…
Make Art and Share It. Loud and Proud.
I know it could be anything. I have always known that making art and sharing it leaves me with only possibilities: make songs! shoot films! create a darkroom! publish a book of poetry! learn to tap dance! etc… But now, after four years of going to art school and still not having a storage unit full of footage, reels, finished projects, and weird props, I know now that it cannot be anything…but that it MUST BE SOMETHING. I have to put in the work to really make one thing- A twenty-five second video study on trees, a horror film, a portrait of my grandmother- and after it’s made, I have to share it.
As scary as putting it all out there will be, especially outside the bubble of camp where we are all on an equal playing field, it can only lead to good. Even that horrible critique from the sleeping guy with the bad attitude in the back of the class is useful. “Hey Bro, at least I made this and showed up today. What have you done?” Me: One. Guy: Zero.
I had a dream about a year ago where a good friend and fellow artist Keith said, “What is the point of making art if you don’t share it?” At the time, this struck me more than anything else anyone had said to me- in real life or in dream life. With the internet the way it is, and computer programs the way they are, it is easier than it ever has been to upload, cut, share, re-edit, and post projects. I have the tools I need, I even have the time! If this is something that I care about, it MUST BE SOMETHING that I do.
…Two…
Be Honest With Myself.
And in so doing, be honest with others. At times, I live in my head. I’m sure you, dear reader, can appreciate that mysterious place that so often recreates events, conversations, and mere glances into Hollywood-worthy situations… Is it because I have seen one too many episodes of bad reality television? Let’s be honest… maybe. Maybe I have spent a little too much time on Facebook instead of in person; or with the Kardashian family instead of with my own; in the realm of “Reality” instead of, quite simply, being real. The first step is probably deleting my Facebook. Oh wait, let’s be honest, I hardly know how to do that. Instead I resolve to spend a lot less time making up drama that does not exist and a lot more time getting my hands dirty with real life.
…Three…
Respect My Body.
For one reason or another, this has always been a see-saw for me. I know that “My body is my temple,” and I know that the secrets of happiness and well-being include a healthy dose of exercise, and I know that I have always been more productive and thoughtful when my day includes however-many minutes of activity. Still, life gets in the way, or feelings get in the way and all of the sudden it has been three months since I have even seen a gym; and what’s worse, it looks scarier than ever.
Runway model or not, I really like myself. I appreciate what I have, and where I am going as a human on Earth. Why not safeguard that contentedness with a little regular exercise? It’s like Vitamin C to prevent a cold. Go to the gym to prevent confusion. And let’s be honest, that is one hour of my day that I will NOT be spending on Facebook or with the Kardashians.
…Four…
Make Good on Commitments.
I told my grandmother that we would go out and get manicures. I told Jess that I would write this blog post. I told my friend Laura that we would get coffee. I told myself I would do Hip Hop Abs today because it is a workout video that is hilarious but demanding all the same. Small commitments -that let’s be honest are not so hard to make good on- make following through with big commitments easier.
…Five…
Go Slow
In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.” I have a tendency to fast-forward to the good part. If I’m excited for a trip, but still have a week at home before catching the flight, fast-forward. Moving to a new place in six months, fast-forward. Can’t wait until the end of the work-day, fast-forward. All of this fast-forwarding has landed me exactly no where. I went on the trip and it was AWESOME, I moved to the new place and it didn’t work out… at all … The work-day ended and I went home and accidently watched the Kardashians for an hour. What I am trying to say is, there are always good parts and bad parts. It’s life, and the proverbial rollercoaster doesn’t discriminate. At the end of the day, week, or year there is good in the bad, and bad in the good.
In ten minutes of washing the dishes there is a beautiful sunset that sparks the idea to go on a walk. On the walk I realize I should probably do a twenty-five second video study on trees. Two weeks later I have art. I will miss all of this if I do not take the time to just look out the window.
In short, going slower brings my awareness up. Suddenly everything is clearer, and I don’t feel like I am going to have a heart attack.
…Six…
Smile.
“Smile to keep from throwing up”. Smile at the mailman. Smile on the job. Smile in my sleep. Smile from my liver. Just smile.
So there, I’ve poured my heart out via Blog, and now I want to hear YOUR resolutions. Tell us what you have resolved to take with you from YPI into your life in 2012.
Cheers!
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