28 September 2026

Today is my final 10 minute daily. I am feeling lower than appropriate for the level of ‘real stress’ in my life and I think it’s because I’m not able to live up to my own standards. This is something that happens every now and then. Nothing new.

Problem: I can’t bring myself to relax consistently and that’s a health hazard. I feel like I’m wasting time when I’m not producing something or working towards producing something. I have an internal generator of ideas that doesn’t stop. I find creative ways to avoid the things I don’t want to do and I even avoid chilling (like simply sitting and watching the TV without obsessing over which project I haven’t completed). And it’s all because of my standards.

I want to create. And I want to relax. But reality is practicing art and living an artist’s life does not sustain my lifestyle. It’s so hard to deny my artistic spirit because creation is within me. It’s what brings me joy, closely followed by periods of sadness and depletion because I’m not living to my standards. That’s how I feel today. There’s just not enough hours in the day nor energy in the hours I do have to d

edicate to my art.

I don’t want to lower my standards, I don’t want to stop writing these dailies, but that’s the only way I seem to be able to avoid chastising myself for not keeping up. There are times I accept that I’ve not been able to complete my list of to-dos and should-dos. I appreciate that creative inspiration and the energy required to translate it into an art form is not a bottomless pit. Some days the well is full and overflowing with richness for the taking. Other days it’s full and overflowing with confusion, exhaustion and all I want to do is nothing.

Today I want nothing. I want no obligation. I am desperate for freedom. So I am freeing myself from my 10 minute dailies. I let go of this commitment. It’s okay. I forgive myself for not keeping up.

Cover image thanks to Stefano Pollio on Unsplash