The War of Art

I see my last post was June 2018. Wow, 2-1/2 years ago!

Jon Acuff, a motivational speaker who happens to live in my neighborhood, recommends the book The War of Art (2002). In it author Steven Pressfield describes how to overcome resistance by pursuing your creativity like a professional, getting up every morning to just do it.  So here I am before 7am -- writing. I have some things to say. Verbally I sometimes stumble or hesitate to bring up the controversial topics I read and think about.  Like philosophy, religion, politics, science, and culture wars. I am stepping down from two volunteer programs I’ve been supporting for the last 5 years with hopes of creating space for new endeavors. I am stepping down without knowing what those new endeavors might be. We will see. But my first idea is to try writing. I will stop now to poop and watch the CBS morning news for today’s eye opener -- your world in 90 seconds. It is a great way to check on current events without dwelling on them. 

Back now.

The volunteer roles were with two wonderful organizations: Recovering from Religion and SMART Recovery. Recovering from Religion helps people who are struggling with or leaving their faith. I served as a helpline agent taking incoming calls and chats, curating website resource links, interviewing new volunteers, and facilitating support group meetings. SMART Recovery helps people overcome addictive behaviors with a secular, science-based approach. I started the first support group meetings in middle Tennessee and became regional coordinator for the state of Tennessee. Turnover is a problem that can beset any organization, but especially volunteer organizations, when knowledge and experience suddenly walk out the door.  Succession planning is important to me so I have been busy developing my replacements. Almost complete.

Time to get started on my day job, the one I get paid for. Since the pandemic I work 100% from home. All I have to do is slide over to the next desk in my office. When I return I will tell you about my office.

My office is upstairs. It is either a small extra bedroom or a big alcove with sloped ceilings (13’x11’). My work computer sits on my desk, the Apple Mac sits beside on a card table with one of those multi-purpose printer-copier-scanner-fax machines in between. Along the wall with the window are shelves holding knick-knacks, awards, framed photos, diplomas, and certificates. There’s my chess set, dumbbells, metal box with important papers, sofa, Bluetooth speaker, and guitar. By the door is my bookcase with books I’ve read but can’t seem to part with, including The War of Art. And there sits our dog, Cooper, a Jack Russell Terrier and Shih Tzu mix – which makes him a Jack Shits! All this with just enough clutter for that inviting, lived-in look.

Ok let’s get into a topic.

I voted for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen in the 2020 Presidential election. The Republican and Democratic nominees where not appealing to me. I could not vote for Trump because of his lying and bragging. I was concerned about Biden’s age, mental acuity, and the woke illiberal Left flank of the Democratic Party. So I voted for Jo Jorgensen because she is a reasonable person, but also to express my displeasure with the candidates presented by the two-party system and to follow my libertarian instincts.  I almost voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson in 2016, but his bizarre comments towards the end of his campaign seemed intended to deliberately shoo away votes. I sensed that the race was getting tight so I changed my mind in the voting booth and voted for Hillary Clinton, never Trump. When you vote 3rd party you have to overcome the valid argument that you are throwing your vote away since there is no chance of winning. But I feel good about it because I expressed my Libertarian leanings: freedom of choice, free trade, free movement across borders, freedom of speech and thought, and limited, non-aggressive government. A friend likes to tell me “Libertarians live in a bad neighborhood, right next to anarchy.”  Let me assure I am no extremist or anarchist. I am a centrist and a moderate who leans toward liberty.

More to follow.