Introducing Mandy Miracle
So here’s the thing. I blogged every day in May, as part of the WordCount 2010 Blogathon… and I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t meaningful. I only really cared about a handful of things I posted, like this.
As I discussed my quandary with a friend, she said, “Well, why don’t you try a different kind of blog?” At first, I resisted – I mean, here I’ve spent time and energy trying to build up a following for one thing, and now I’m going back to square one?
But that line of thinking alone clued me in: Building a following shouldn’t be goal #1 (especially when I don’t have a business plan to speak of). I need blogging to be an artistic outlet for me. I was hemming myself in by trying too hard to tightly define “This blog is about X” so that I could define it easily, market it easily… but I wasn’t having any fun. And that sucks.
So I came up with an alter-ego to jump-start my creativity and give me permission to do whatever the hell I want; and I found a new sandbox that I am thoroughly enjoying. Alter-ego: Mandy Miracle. Playspace: Tumblr. Check it out. I can’t promise this will last, but if it doesn’t, I promise to tell you about my next adventure.
How to Find the Work You Love
“The quest for work you love – it all begins with the two simple questions: Who am I? and What in the world am I doing here?”
- Laurence G. Boldt in How to Find the Work You Love
Ah, yes – the “simple” questions. Right up there with “Want fries with that?” – “What is my purpose on this earth?”
Who are you? Want fries with that?
I don’t know my purpose just yet, but I figure the best way to find it is by living mindfully. For me, that means striving to align my external existence with my inner one. Whenever I feel like something in my external life is hollow – that I’m just going through the motions with it – I know it’s time to make a change, large or small. (more…)
My Version of a Prayer
“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” – Joseph Campbell
I know old Joey Campbell is right. And I know the challenges I’m facing are nothing compared to what people are experiencing all around the world, this very minute, from the gulf coast to Iraq to the projects just a few blocks away from me.
But I’m only me, and Universe, I’m ready for a breakthrough. I’m ready for a quiet night of sleep. I’m ready for the city of New York to shut the f*ck up for a minute. Can you do that for me, Universe?
I feel it’s emblematic of my week that last night, I went to a meditation class – more like dragged myself, I was so tired – and a rock band was rehearsing directly on the other side of a thin wall. (more…)
Try Something New
I hate the gym. Always have, and always will. For a while, I’ve been thinking about taking a dance class as an alternate cardio workout, but for whatever reason – latent fear, laziness – I haven’t pursued that instinct…until now.
Today I took a Zumba class at Peridance Capezio Center. (If you haven’t heard of Zumba, it’s a mix of Latin dance and aerobics… or, as the New York Times puts it, a “cardio-dance routine.”) I have no formal dance training, and I haven’t done an intense cardio workout….well, ever. So today’s class kicked my butt. But also: It was so much fun.
I looked ridiculous (more…)
I Want to Learn Graphic Design
Last week I was browsing at the Strand, and I came across a book of typography-based tattoos, like this one:
I was transfixed. I can’t remember the last time I was so inspired. I just wanted to keep looking at the pretty pictures.
More than that: I wanted to make the pretty pictures. I wanted to learn how to create striking prints (more…)
