Want To Be Inspired? Pretend To Be A Dog

Or, Why I Want To Focus More On Inspiring Stories

Aug 23, 2024

Pet Mindfulness Is Not For Me, I Guess

There is no shortage of advice on the internet on how to find inspiration. List after list on site after site, usually saying the same things over and over again just with different words. It’s always some variation on the following:

change things up
interact with art
be in nature

My research uncovered this gem1, which might be my favorite suggestion:

Watch your cat or dog in nature and try to emulate your pet’s mindfulness and playfulness.

I’m just picturing people in a dog park on all fours catching frisbees in their mouths, trying to find inspiration. Um, no thanks.

When I first started this Substack, I planned to focus mostly on my struggles with creative anxiety as a screenwriter. Since then, three things have happened:

I’ve found that most of what I personally had to say about combatting creative anxiety… well, it’s kind of been said already. Just on Substack alone, there are countless others documenting their thorny relationship with their craft, and doing it well.
I discovered that talking with my friend Jon, the Kidney Giver, and writing about it was WAY MORE FUN and, well, inspiring.
I remembered that the name of this Substack is INSPIRED, for fuck’s sake. Maybe it should actually be about being inspired?

So , that settled it. No more Debbie Downer. Time for… whatever the opposite of that is that isn’t really annoying. Let’s get inspired!

So… What inspires you?

I wonder if it’s similar to what inspires me. I’m guessing there’s a good chance since, according to the internet, we all find inspiration basically in the same way (unless you get on all fours and catch frisbees. If so, can we talk? I have questions.).

That said, here are the three things I plan to focus on moving forward:2

People and stories. I am constantly inspired by those around me and their stories and I’m thinking maybe you will be, too.
Sparks. Those bits and bobs that cross my path that are like little sparks, flashes of excitement that with some nurturing, have the potential to turn into fireworks.
Artist Interviews. The internet and I can agree on this one, art of all kinds and the artists that create that art are endlessly inspiring to me.

I have so many stories like Jon’s, well, not exactly like Jon’s, there are only so many Kidney Givers out there, but stories from people I know that make me laugh and cry and feel and I can’t wait to share those with you. I also have so many cool interviews planned with fascinating creators of all kinds and I can’t wait to share those too.

My hope is to make this a space people come to get inspired. So, hold onto your butts!3 Things are about to get really good.

Sparks that lit me up this week:

a close up of a person wearing a suit and tie

People who know what to do at mixers.

How, how how, HOW do people do this? Every time I think I’m ready, every time I think this will be the event where I finally am able to blindly approach strangers with drinks talking in a group and laughing and interrupt them just to say my stupid name with my stupid face… every time I’m wrong. So, when I see someone who just… rules at the whole networking thing, I’m in total awe. And that’s what happened last week. I stood dumbstruck while I watched a friend just… WALK UP TO PEOPLE AND SAY HELLO. It was like watching a magician, but instead of pulling a rabbit out of a hat, it was confidence. Girl was on fire.

Here are some tips Forbes has for these trying experiences.

Cool as hell libraries

I mean, this isn’t particularly novel, we all know libraries are cool. But, sometimes an old standby can really hit the spot and these are nothing short of spectacular. Just looking at them makes me want to be a smarter person. Here’s the article I saw these in, there are a few more that I didn’t grab if you want to take a look.

The birthday song

The Hill Sisters, who wrote the birthday song, were also just really amazing people. From the Smithsonian:

“Happy Birthday” may be the Hill sisters’ main claim to fame, but their impact on American history extends far beyond the beloved song.

Patty is the reason people now attend kindergarten, Sullivan says. She introduced the progressive philosophy of early childhood teaching, which stresses the importance of children’s creativity and focuses on social and emotional well-being in addition to academic learning…. While Mildred was a musical prodigy and internationally known pianist… She also acted as a historian of Louisville’s music scene.

Piñatas of Earthly Delights

The incredibly talented filmmaker Tom Maroney has a documentary short film currently playing festivals that I was lucky enough to see called Piñatas of Earthly Delights.

It’s about, “‘a queer, half-breed south Texan artist’ Roberto Benavidez, who makes piñatas inspired by Heironymous Bosch and medieval manuscripts. Um, sold. Check out these incredible works of art:

Inspired by:

Some crazy clouds

I thought these were incredible:

A Love Story

Valley Girl is one of my all time favorite romances. If you haven’t seen it, I know it seems like it will be silly, but trust me. If 18 year-old Nic Cage doesn’t make you swoon when you watch this then you are made of stone. I got the chance to see this at the Academy Museum this week and the director Martha Coolidge did a Q & A beforehand. If I could be half as cool as that woman, I would die happy. She was truly an inspiration. Honestly, I don’t think there could have been anything more punk rock than a woman making films in the early 80’s.