Citation Needed, Part 3

Mother told me, yes she told me/I’d meet squirrels like you/She also told me ‘Stay away/You never know if they’ll fetch’

The hell’s that even mean? Ah, but that’s the joy of encountering the canid mind, innit? Anyway, I’m a firm believer in not forcing the universe’s hand, even for things you want. I think things happen in their own time, and the trick is learning to be ready to jump on opportunities as they come. To wit: I’ve been thinking lately about this li’l paunch I’ve cultivated over the past 10 or so years, and how it might be time for me to do something about it.

And voila! two nights ago my cousin and I had dinner, during which she began telling me about how her keto diet is going, which is, apparently, well. I thought Aha! the universe aligns again. She introduced me to a brand called Keto Chow, which is a hilarious name for a company, but which is also great to cater to a canid like me. So I’ve ordered my Starter Kit, and you’ll get an update when it arrives.

SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT IT

Another topic of conversation between me and my cousin was what we’ve been watching. Our tastes generally align, so it was fun to go back and forth with “Have you seen x?” “Yes, I loved it! Have you seen y?” “Yes, it was terrible!”

I used to be pretty intolerant of other people’s enjoyment of things if I thought they were stupid. I would argue about the artistic merit of this and that, and in the end nobody walked away happy. These days it’s a lot easier for me to just say “It wasn’t for me” and leave it at that. This is not to say that I’ve discarded critical thought, but I’ve learned that you can’t — and shouldn’t — argue someone out of something they like. What’s the point? How does it affect your life if someone loves that show you hated? Everyone gets to have their own experience and it’s not your job to police that.

And if you’re curious: she loved ‘The Peripheral’; I couldn’t get past episode 1. And that leads us nicely into

WHAT I’M READING

Honestly, I’m open to suggestion on what to call this section. Because it’s not just about reading, it’s about watching and listening and eating and experiencing. But damned if I know how to encapsulate all that into a single term.

I’ve chanced upon a fantastic YouTube channel called ‘80zforever’. Its mission is to give some time to obscure 80s bands that no one will have heard of. It’s genuinely incredible that the internet has made things like this available. Check it out; you might discover something you love.

TRAUMA IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL

One of the things I’ve been struggling with while writing my tv show idea is: how fucked-up is my protagonist? The themes of this show are about trauma, self-forgiveness, and responsibility. I want my character to display ongoing stress and guilt, but at what point is it too much? He should have a redemptive arc, but how to write it so it feels earned?

I write backwards. I have to know how it’s going to end so I can properly set it all up beforehand. And I’m really concerned that what I have in mind for the conclusion won’t feel authentic to the experience of those who have lived through a life-changing event. At the same time, I realize that everyone copes in their own way and that there’s no timeline for recovery. So in the end I’m hoping I’ll be okay with making a final decision. Whatever comes as a result of it I’ll just have to deal with.

My apologies for missing last week’s newsletter. Typical of me, really. I’ll try to be better going forward. You just keep being you, ‘cause no one else can do it better. And now, your reality check: Space Wolf