What a wonderful piece. I have also struggled with this push and pull before as well. My big moment was when I dislocated my shoulder in a pick up basketball game on vacation abroad (long story haha) but if meant that when I came back for baseball All I could do was run and hit. I could throw at the end of the year, but something was different. Then I went on another trip abroad that summer with a band and orchestra group, which really made me realize how much I love the arts. I ended up majoring in opera performance. It is interesting how the world thinks we have to be either/or, and can’t be both, when both are so complimentary to one another. A lot of professional athletes have artistic backgrounds. Heck, the best kicker in the NFL is also an opera singer. We should embrace the idea of being both artist/athlete!
Yo Preston, thanks a ton for reading and sharing your story. Sounds like you went through some of the things I went through when I lost my own ambition. But it's awesome to see that you found your way to the arts, and can blend your interest in both the arts and sports to truly express yourself.
Hey Jon, this is such a great piece! I love how you talked about being an artist and being an athlete together. As a writer myself, I always thought of treating it like an athlete would. I would write every single day, practice, come up with new ideas, and do anything I could to improve. I wish more writers had that athletes mentality because it would stop them from giving up so early. Thank you for posting this !Your newsletter is awesome by the way. Just subscribed! :)
Appreciate that, Khadejah! It means a lot that you took the time to read it and I agree. I also wish more people understood that they don't have to choose one or the other. And thanks for subscribing!
I remember playing tennis and basketball when I was younger, and I wasn't worried about being judged. But somewhere along the line, I stopped engaging in sports. I'm still trying uncover the reasons why I stopped. Did it have to do with an embarrassing experience or did I just have trouble balancing sports and school work? When I stopped playing sports, I spent a lot of time writing, and I realized that writing was what I loved to do, and I could do it without the fear of judgment. It's definitely a mindset hurdle that I need to overcome to go back into playing sports again.
Hey, Alexis. Thanks for sharing. It's awesome to hear that you at least had your writing to lean on when you quit playing sports. Who knows what caused the mindset switch, but I know you and I aren't the only ones to go through it. But I'd say if yu can overcome that mental hurdle, it would enhance your confidence in your creativity.
Amazing read Jon. I've always found this play between the order/routine which is a metaphor of the athlete and the free flow chaos, a metaphor for the artist here to be very rich.
When we can embrace both, when we can converge these phenomenas, at the edges, colours appear and it's the zone where we truly thrive.
Lovely read Jon, I like what you said about being both an athlete and an artist. I have definetely felt the 'push' from society to be either one or the other, only to discover I feel the best when i'm both!
The idea of the starving/tortured artist just doesn't align with the athlete persona, and vice versa. Just like you outlined, one can help the other. Plus, being healthier for longer means we can also create for longer, so its a win-win.
What a wonderful piece. I have also struggled with this push and pull before as well. My big moment was when I dislocated my shoulder in a pick up basketball game on vacation abroad (long story haha) but if meant that when I came back for baseball All I could do was run and hit. I could throw at the end of the year, but something was different. Then I went on another trip abroad that summer with a band and orchestra group, which really made me realize how much I love the arts. I ended up majoring in opera performance. It is interesting how the world thinks we have to be either/or, and can’t be both, when both are so complimentary to one another. A lot of professional athletes have artistic backgrounds. Heck, the best kicker in the NFL is also an opera singer. We should embrace the idea of being both artist/athlete!
Again, loved your piece!
Yo Preston, thanks a ton for reading and sharing your story. Sounds like you went through some of the things I went through when I lost my own ambition. But it's awesome to see that you found your way to the arts, and can blend your interest in both the arts and sports to truly express yourself.
Much love 💪🏾
Hey Jon, this is such a great piece! I love how you talked about being an artist and being an athlete together. As a writer myself, I always thought of treating it like an athlete would. I would write every single day, practice, come up with new ideas, and do anything I could to improve. I wish more writers had that athletes mentality because it would stop them from giving up so early. Thank you for posting this !Your newsletter is awesome by the way. Just subscribed! :)
Appreciate that, Khadejah! It means a lot that you took the time to read it and I agree. I also wish more people understood that they don't have to choose one or the other. And thanks for subscribing!
No problem Jon! Keep up the great work! :)
This was very nice to read. And it’s true with how we can’t control how others feel about our work and we have to focus on ourselves in the end.
I remember playing tennis and basketball when I was younger, and I wasn't worried about being judged. But somewhere along the line, I stopped engaging in sports. I'm still trying uncover the reasons why I stopped. Did it have to do with an embarrassing experience or did I just have trouble balancing sports and school work? When I stopped playing sports, I spent a lot of time writing, and I realized that writing was what I loved to do, and I could do it without the fear of judgment. It's definitely a mindset hurdle that I need to overcome to go back into playing sports again.
Hey, Alexis. Thanks for sharing. It's awesome to hear that you at least had your writing to lean on when you quit playing sports. Who knows what caused the mindset switch, but I know you and I aren't the only ones to go through it. But I'd say if yu can overcome that mental hurdle, it would enhance your confidence in your creativity.
Appreciate you taking the time to read the essay!
Amazing read Jon. I've always found this play between the order/routine which is a metaphor of the athlete and the free flow chaos, a metaphor for the artist here to be very rich.
When we can embrace both, when we can converge these phenomenas, at the edges, colours appear and it's the zone where we truly thrive.
Thank you for writing this post.
That's exactly how I feel about it.
Thanks for reading, Tyler!
Lovely read Jon, I like what you said about being both an athlete and an artist. I have definetely felt the 'push' from society to be either one or the other, only to discover I feel the best when i'm both!
The idea of the starving/tortured artist just doesn't align with the athlete persona, and vice versa. Just like you outlined, one can help the other. Plus, being healthier for longer means we can also create for longer, so its a win-win.
Thanks for reading, Ilan! And I love that last point. When you take care of your body, you're honoring your potential as a creator as well.
Amazing and true read.
Appreciate it, Jamal