We are surprising and wild creatures
Lucky us.
My kid's in a rock band.
Sunday night they had a show. After the show a woman came up to me. She was a friend of the guitarist in the band. She asked if I was Tuesday’s Mom (Tuesday is my kid). I said yeah, why?
-She needs to own it more! She did so good but at points you could see her get in her head. But the good moments were so good! She needs to be confident and just give it to us! We want it! Let us have it!
I scoffed. She’s 13, I said.
-She’s 13??
People are always wanting us to be something we’re not. The message of “not enough” is everywhere we turn. Even when we do completely amazing things.
Another person came up to me. Someone who knows Tuesday from school. She’s usually so reserved, you know, not very confident. It’s crazy to see her own the stage!
I understand what this person was saying but being reserved has nothing to do with confidence.
Yesterday I met with my therapist. She works somatically so some of the work we do together includes her asking me things and me hearing myself answer - out loud. And feeling how it feels in my body.
I can’t remember what she asked me, but my answer was no. She asked me to say it again, like I meant it. I took a deep breath and from the center of my being, deep inside my gut and said FUCK NO.
I heard it that time, she said.
Did the “fuck” help?
Is it all just perceptions of the one perceiving?
I said no, but not loud enough. Tuesday killed it on the stage but was “not confident” enough. Or was she surprisingly confident?
Let’s remember that there’s room for all kinds of being in the world: reserved, quiet, loud, extroverted. And none of these trumps the other. They are all needed. We are surprising and wild creatures. Seemingly paradoxical, but really just beautiful kaleidoscopes of color.
Lucky us. We don’t have to fit into a box. We are free to be all the colors. Every shade and hue, every combination. Everything.
And everything is enough, don’t you think?
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SOME THINGS!
Speaking of my kid, her band PURELY GREY just dropped their first single “i really don’t care”. Couldn’t be more proud. Check it out - on all streaming platforms!
Ojai Creatives had a fun meetup last week. I’m overwhelmed (literally) by how this group has taken off. Excited to see what happens with it this year.
Just finished up some big content projects with Reboot and am looking for a new project or two. If you need help with content or community or coaching around your creative project, I hope you’ll reach out. You can learn more about what I offer here.
I have a couple more creative projects brewing for 2024 - both including music promotion. I really want to get back to helping get music into ears this year!
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Do it from love, not for love.
Jump + Pray,
Joce
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⫸ Snail Mail : 509 North Ventura Street, Ojai, CA, 93023
“People are always wanting us to be something we’re not.” 💙