stop smell the roses breathe deeply take it all in now get on with it
Well, Timberlines is officially launched, and I am off on my Substack creative journey. My haiku here seems an apt metaphor for my discovery and engagement process since signing on in late January. I’ve been lurking in the background discovering some great poetry and essays on writing while re-engaging with writing myself. Then taking more time thinking through my approach to giving new voice to some of my creative instincts through the Substack ecosystem.
My natural tendency is to slowly assess, evaluate and plan new projects. Though some might just call it procrastination to defer taking any real action. Perhaps, in this case, I’ve been giving a bit too much weight to my fear of putting myself at risk creatively in a public environment.
Meanwhile, taking creative entrepreneurial risk in a business sense is something I am very comfortable with, having led the revival and development of the iconic Blackwing pencil for the past fifteen years. In this endeavor, as well as through establishing and building the Blackwing Foundation, our team has built something that at its core is all about inspiring others with great stories. All while providing high quality tool sets that support and encourage people to slow down and discover, develop and express their own unique creativity.
So why is it so difficult when it comes to taking risks in a more individually artistic, poetic or musical performance-based manner? I’ve had the same experience with singing, I’ve performed over the years in various choirs, rarely taking the director up on those encouraging offers to perform a solo. I certainly wasn’t ready for The Voice, but I was good enough to take center stage in front of my “Don’t Give Up Your Day Job Chorus”. Still, generally I opted out.
In the end it’s a leap of faith. Making a commitment to just go ahead and give it a go and not to judge yourself too harshly. To appreciate the encouragement and support from others when it comes and, as my father always told me, let the negativity when it comes wash right off your back like a duck in the water. Substack seems an encouraging and supportive place for poets. Finally, it seems that vulnerably modeling in oneself the behavior that you’re hoping to encourage and support in others is as important as any other form of inspiration
And so, I jump. Maybe some of you will catch me.
Check out the Timberlines About page for more background on my past writing and what you’ll find here in Timberlines.