When Things Go Wrong

As I type out this blog post, I find myself in a different state of mind than usual. Normally, I’m all about positivity, and I tend to share the bright side of life. But today, I want to talk about those times when things don’t go as planned. You start thinking about your own life in the grand scheme of things and can easily find yourself focused on everything that is going wrong. Recently, we took a big financial hit, and the thoughts of our current financial situation have been dominating my brain jar.

Klee and I are what you would call, workaholics. Although our work is fun and creative, we have also put other aspects on our plate that can spiral out of control. This year, we set out to make our lives a little easier, so we could focus on what really matters to us. That has been challenging.

We started the year out by creating our own membership site. The initial idea was to make life simpler, to step away from Patreon, and to streamline our creative community endeavors. However, what actually happened was quite the opposite. The site brought a barrage of glitches and challenges, which only added to my workload. The plan was to simplify, but it seemed we inadvertently complicated things. That being said, it was my fault. As a self-proclaimed workaholic, instead of going the simple route with our membership community, I went crazy and added way too much.

This situation has led me to ponder the financial aspect of our journey. You might think that someone as dedicated as Klee and I, who work tirelessly on our creative pursuits, would be swimming in money. But, the reality is, that our jam-packed schedule doesn’t always leave us with the time to sort out our finances. It’s more like we’re constantly putting out fires, and this chaotic existence doesn’t exactly align with our desire for a simpler, more balanced life.

As October comes to an end and November approaches, I reflect on the whirlwind of activities that transpired. In just one month, we conducted our first artist masterclass workshop, we are about to release a song and a music video, and I introduced my limited edition artist’s calendars. On top of that, our daughter is moving in this week, which has brought its own set of preparations, emotions, and challenges.

We want to be as supportive as possible. It’s easy to do that when you are not focused on the financial dip your bank account has taken for the month. Life is undoubtedly smoother when you’re not just scraping by, but right now, we can only provide emotional support for our daughter as she transitions out of college and decides her path in life. We want to be a positive influence in her life, but the struggles we are focused on can be overwhelming and less than motivational.

Here’s the thing, despite these challenges, I know that I’m standing in my own way when it comes to feeling better about this stuff. This isn’t the first time we’ve faced such a situation; it’s a familiar place for us all at some point. The key, I’ve come to realize, is to keep your head up and your heart open to possibilities.

Amid the chaos and financial worries, we must remind ourselves that opportunities and possibilities are always nearby, if not right in front of us. Our power lies in focusing on what is working, on the things we can do, and on cherishing the moments we have.

When I take a step back and assess this year, I see so many things going right. We’ve built a fantastic online community, our daughter’s exciting new chapter is about to begin, we had a successful artist’s workshop, we’re releasing a stunning music video, and we’ve created a life that we both love. I’ve created beautiful art, we’ve made new friends in our new town, and we’ve found a home that we adore. Life could be worse, a lot worse. It’s really just a matter of perspective.

Yes, life doesn’t always go according to plan, but that’s just the nature of life itself. Instead of worrying too much, let’s savor the moments, enjoy life, and focus on what’s going well as much as you can. In the grand scheme of things, resilience and gratitude can pave the way for a brighter future. Trust me, I’m not just quoting some shit I’ve read, I’ve lived it, time and time again.

So, as I wrap up this outpouring of random thoughts, I leave you with this: Consider where your focus lies. Challenges will always arise, but life, at its core, is a series of moments to be cherished. If you are reading this, then you are here right now, living it. Embrace your life, enjoy it as much as you can, things will go wrong, but things will also go right. Make the most of it all.