OMG! When I heard you were in Chicago - I was going to ask you if you were looking into improv because I def got that vibe from watching you read! You have talent and age on your side and have so far to go. Will look forward to following your career!
I really resonate with this weekly newsletter and relating life's journey to paths, especially when you say "I don’t believe I could have gotten to the place I am now without doing the things I did..."
Although completely different from your path, I too am seeing how all of my life events, whether it be triumphs, struggles, hard work, etc. have prepared and steered me to where I am today. I'm actually writing about all of this in my medical school personal statement as we speak, jumping ship from engineering and taking on the "boss stage" that is medical school applications. Anyways, it's always a pleasure to read your weekly posts. Keep it up!
I feel this exact same energy right now, Matt, and can't wait to see where it takes us. I too want, so badly, to make stuff, as you said, and we can! And we will! Thank you for putting this feeling into words.
Hey Matt - I’m pretty sure James Brpwn said “I feel good” many more times then once! 😬. Glad you’re on the road up!
Before Christmas, trying to decide upon a unique present for myself, I landed on improv training. I have not signed up yet, but I still have the tab open on my computer. I can be either very chatty, open, friendly, and adventurous, or mouse-quiet and overly shy. I was thinking Improv might help my writing - a little push to get more out there. I’d love to hear more about your experience with improv.
I also did my first public resting this year at Hugo House in Seattle. I’ve been following Chuck on substack. Are you in Portland?
"it’s also been attempting to figure myself out by way of putting words on a page"
this really resonates with me! Joan Didion says that "I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear." The act of writing, itself, is the means by which I discover who I am, what I have to say, and what I think. The way I seek clarity and generation. It is what makes me who I am, what makes me into someone and something I want to be.
"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable, said Robert Henri once." I couldn't agree more. I'm glad to see you're confidence level remains strong and you are moving forward, fully committed to the path you've chosen.
Your newsletter about "confidence" last week provoked a lot of self analysis and reflection in this old noggin. I concluded that whatever level or state of confidence I've felt in my life it tended to be in the context of specific endeavors or pursuits. And the notion of confidence within myself didn't really present itself as confidence. From my teens through my late 20's I surfed. I reached a considerably high level of mastery but that didn't translate in my mind as confidence. Compulsion, obsession. Some sort of psychic/physical connectedness that the ocean had over me. Still does. Confidence, sure. I had no doubt about my abilities and my willingness to take on the sometimes serious dangers. Did I conceptualize it as confidence? Possibly. When shooting the shit with the homies, I never felt the need to talk up my exploits. I knew I was legit. Did that generalize into an all around confidence about who I was? Not really. I never felt particularly confident about who I was in a social sense. Always felt a little lost, a little lacking. Too sensitive to others' needs or opinions. Not a strong sense of self. But that weakness turned out to be an asset in my chosen line of work--teaching young people with special needs. Being inherently sensitive to others has been an invaluable tool in my work as an educator. I've had little difficulty putting the needs of others before my own. Is that due to a lack of confidence? If so, so be it. Confidence is a nice thing to have and can serve you well in many aspects of life. But a lack of it, as long as it doesn't become debilitating, is not the worse thing in the world. I think.
I myself heard James Brown say that many times. It was a standard part of his repertoire. Glad you are feeling good. Keep up the great work. God bless you and hold you in His keeping. Amen.
May you never forget your time in Ohio. You had a very cool room at the Calvin Center. I’ve spent alot of time there in the past. Keep writing, making friends and being who you are. I’m very pleased to have met you!! Write on, BROTHER!!
OMG! When I heard you were in Chicago - I was going to ask you if you were looking into improv because I def got that vibe from watching you read! You have talent and age on your side and have so far to go. Will look forward to following your career!
Matt,
I really resonate with this weekly newsletter and relating life's journey to paths, especially when you say "I don’t believe I could have gotten to the place I am now without doing the things I did..."
Although completely different from your path, I too am seeing how all of my life events, whether it be triumphs, struggles, hard work, etc. have prepared and steered me to where I am today. I'm actually writing about all of this in my medical school personal statement as we speak, jumping ship from engineering and taking on the "boss stage" that is medical school applications. Anyways, it's always a pleasure to read your weekly posts. Keep it up!
-Chris
I feel this exact same energy right now, Matt, and can't wait to see where it takes us. I too want, so badly, to make stuff, as you said, and we can! And we will! Thank you for putting this feeling into words.
Until we MEAT again, my friend.
Hey Matt - I’m pretty sure James Brpwn said “I feel good” many more times then once! 😬. Glad you’re on the road up!
Before Christmas, trying to decide upon a unique present for myself, I landed on improv training. I have not signed up yet, but I still have the tab open on my computer. I can be either very chatty, open, friendly, and adventurous, or mouse-quiet and overly shy. I was thinking Improv might help my writing - a little push to get more out there. I’d love to hear more about your experience with improv.
I also did my first public resting this year at Hugo House in Seattle. I’ve been following Chuck on substack. Are you in Portland?
Be well. Just keep writing!
"it’s also been attempting to figure myself out by way of putting words on a page"
this really resonates with me! Joan Didion says that "I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear." The act of writing, itself, is the means by which I discover who I am, what I have to say, and what I think. The way I seek clarity and generation. It is what makes me who I am, what makes me into someone and something I want to be.
Thanks for this post!
"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable, said Robert Henri once." I couldn't agree more. I'm glad to see you're confidence level remains strong and you are moving forward, fully committed to the path you've chosen.
Your newsletter about "confidence" last week provoked a lot of self analysis and reflection in this old noggin. I concluded that whatever level or state of confidence I've felt in my life it tended to be in the context of specific endeavors or pursuits. And the notion of confidence within myself didn't really present itself as confidence. From my teens through my late 20's I surfed. I reached a considerably high level of mastery but that didn't translate in my mind as confidence. Compulsion, obsession. Some sort of psychic/physical connectedness that the ocean had over me. Still does. Confidence, sure. I had no doubt about my abilities and my willingness to take on the sometimes serious dangers. Did I conceptualize it as confidence? Possibly. When shooting the shit with the homies, I never felt the need to talk up my exploits. I knew I was legit. Did that generalize into an all around confidence about who I was? Not really. I never felt particularly confident about who I was in a social sense. Always felt a little lost, a little lacking. Too sensitive to others' needs or opinions. Not a strong sense of self. But that weakness turned out to be an asset in my chosen line of work--teaching young people with special needs. Being inherently sensitive to others has been an invaluable tool in my work as an educator. I've had little difficulty putting the needs of others before my own. Is that due to a lack of confidence? If so, so be it. Confidence is a nice thing to have and can serve you well in many aspects of life. But a lack of it, as long as it doesn't become debilitating, is not the worse thing in the world. I think.
You certainly strike me as being a young man of destiny.
I'm happy for you! I've also gotten into more of a "groove" recently that I've been lacking for nearly 3 years. It feels good to feel good :)
I myself heard James Brown say that many times. It was a standard part of his repertoire. Glad you are feeling good. Keep up the great work. God bless you and hold you in His keeping. Amen.
Matt Z.
May you never forget your time in Ohio. You had a very cool room at the Calvin Center. I’ve spent alot of time there in the past. Keep writing, making friends and being who you are. I’m very pleased to have met you!! Write on, BROTHER!!