bookishghost

i recently subscribed to a silly little newsletter by a silly little comedian (Rekha Shankar, who happens to be producing a movie!). she was talking about improv shows and to-do lists and Stardew Valley. and then she said this: Stardew reminds me I don’t exist just to produce work, but to be happy. [...] So my new "work” method in 2025, ironically, is actually to have more “play.” Do you have a 2025 mantra?

and that reminds me that i do, as a matter of fact! i just kind of... forgot! but it is, very simply: "Be brave." for a very long time, i have chosen to be scared and avoided doing a lot of things, but i have also chosen to be brave and accomplished many others. i learned to drive. i went to college. i went to a concert by myself. i got a part-time job. i started student teaching. i figure if i choose to be brave more often, i'll be experienced and wise and accomplished and happy more often, too. the being brave is the hard part--but you only have to do it once. then it's not so scary anymore. i just need everything to be not so scary anymore. maybe that’s what it means to grow up.