ME-OUT-IN

An Utterly Simplified Possibly Indecipherable List of Resolutions

I must tell you—I delight in being obtuse sometimes. And, I do apologize a little for it. But, I think it’s one of my favorite exercises of all, to strip meaning away until maybe the only person who understands it is me. A secret code, with myself! For my eyes mind only. Truth be told, I hope someone puzzles it out, or finds resonance for themselves some way. People, I love words…

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Okay, I did want to break out a couple of these resolutions as they’re guiding my work on this substack project, and after all, it’s powerful to voice one’s goals aloud!

I’ve seen increasing numbers of folks talking about being present (and offline) lately. And I think I saw an article about millennials aging out of the internet? In any case, I’m dead tired of being plugged in. I don’t necessarily want rest either — I want to DO stuff. Every minute is so precious, so valuable! I marvel at how much I can do with 15 of them.

Me: Me!
Out: In the world!!
In: Absorbing!

Recently I was perusing my pinterest feed and realized that something I clicked on was AI-generated. I did a quick search to see if pinterest has any settings to flag AI content on the feed and came up empty. Feeling unsettled, I thought about how I go there to see special things that human beings make, the human element being essential to me (and my gut tells me, to creativity). I thought about books, and research, and how I’ve been yearning but putting off going to the Kerlan Collection at the U of M to research Remy Charlip’s work (choreographer, dancer, set designer, children’s book writer and illustrator, friend and collaborate of Merce Cunningham and John Cage! aka Art Genius). Or how much I love going to the Arboretum Horticultural Library and sitting in the George Nakashima chairs while reading about gardens. Then, we were in NY talking with friends who work in film about the unusual streaming services they use. I wondered… what if we only watched TV/film from the art college library this year!? (I’m pretty sure we’re keeping our subscriptions, we love star trek too much)… but the thought is spacious! What if!

Folks… I really, really want to get a children’s book agent and sell a book. I’ve been cooking on this dream for a LONG TIME, so long y’all are probably tired of hearing me talk about it! And a big reason I started this substack is to *get loose* with my ideas and process, to invite play in a supported way, to get comfortable in my voice. So this year I’ll be listening to jock jams and chanting “BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT!” until somebody gosh dang does.

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And you? What are you researching this year? Or being present for? What strange thing do you want to learn SO MUCH ABOUT?

As always,
thanks so much for being here.

xo
Sara