What's inspiring me
I wish I felt normal enough to write something better to you for this newsletter. But this morning, I had a migraine. And my stomach got mad. So spending a few hours typing while staring at my screen isn’t a good idea.
But I know it’s important to keep going. So here’s a list of things that have been enjoyable and inspiring to me these past few weeks during isolation.
Music: Justin Jarvis
I heard one of Jarvis’ songs a few weeks ago, and he quickly became an artist that has often been on repeat in my Airpods ever since. His music is beautiful. It’s been good for writing and thinking.
Words: Every Moment Holy
My anxiety is almost always through the roof. But I don’t want to stay there. Every Moment Holy is a collection of liturgies I ordered recently to inspire my own writing. As I read it, I am reminded of the truth—and I am able to voice my anxiety in better ways.
Watching: The Andy Griffith Show
Sometimes it is right to be serious. But other times, you need a reminder of how good it is to laugh. So we’ve been watching The Andy Griffith Show almost every night. (And my brothers and I have told each other “Barney, you beat everythang” almost every day.)
Designing with: XD
Sometimes when you’re a writer, you’ve got to take a break from words and do something completely different. I usually go straight to a design project or two—and XD is the tool I use to take my layout ideas and get them on screen.
(Sometimes it’s messy, though. Here’s a screenshot of one of my projects.)
Learning: Duolingo
I’ve been teaching myself Norwegian every day on Duolingo, and even started using it to learn the Arabic alphabet for a story I’m writing. It’s been a great way to continue learning new things.
Community: Starting your own writing (or [insert craft here]) club
I never thought I would be okay with talking about or sharing my writing with other writers. But writing is not a solitary work—anything creative usually isn’t. And the feedback and accountability that come with a good community help you create better art. So two of my siblings and I started a writing group that meets every Tuesday.
If you’re an artist or creative—or someone who devotes intentional time toward any sort of craft—starting or joining a community of other creatives is incredibly important. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. So far, we’ve just agreed that if you’re in the club, you have to commit to writing a story and meeting weekly. I can already see each of us becoming better at our craft.
Recharging by: going outside for a few hours every day
We’ve been going outside almost every evening for a few hours (unless it rains) to wait for the stars and play with the puppies. I’ve written a handful of poems during this time, we’ve had campfires and hotdogs, we’ve started to memorize the location of specific stars and planets. It’s become one of our favorite times to rest as a family every day.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!
What’s been inspiring you these last few weeks?