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This is just a check in post to let you know what I’ve been up to the last few weeks. It contains a little of everything I’m doing, thinking and feeling since I last wrote to you.
When I created Story-Power, I wanted to put the episodes on YouTube, but I only publish audio versions of my conversations. YouTube requires some kind of visual for each post. It takes time to redo the episodes in iMovie by adding photos. And I was busy with too many other projects to add the YouTube episodes.
During the summer, I felt it was time to make some changes to my work flow. I was juggling so many projects that some were left dangling. The YouTube project was one of them. That’s what I’ve been doing since I suspended the Sage Woman Chronicles blog. By the end of the weekend I will have published the first 20 YouTube Story-Power videos and on Wednesday September 27, I will publish episode 84 to all of my podcast outlets. I hope to get all the past episodes up by the end of the year.
Another project I completed this summer was to move Story-Power to a hosting platform called Libsyn. Doing that has allowed me to expand my outreach.
Other things have been percolating beneath the surface. It’s time to make internal changes as well. Since I turned 70, I’ve felt this urge to do some examination of everything I thought I knew. It’s a little jarring when you realize that some of the things you believed to be true, aren’t. I guess it was time to get out of some of the ruts I’d been stuck in for years. Maybe you’re like me, you hold onto thoughts, states of being, even physical things, because you think they will protect you or you will need them one day. But I’ve had a growing feeling that I need to clear out not only old thoughts and feelings that no longer serve me, but physical things I’ve been holding onto as well. An example: I gave away almost all of the plays and theatre books I’d used when I was teaching. It’s nice to look up at the bookshelf in my office and see empty space. Doing that one thing makes me feel lighter.
I’ve made other changes as well. I’ve always had a love hate relationship with money. I have decided it’s time to make friends with it. That’s partly why I created a Patreon Community, changed to a new podcast host, am converting Story-Power episodes to YouTube and created the Apple Subscription option to Story-Power. I work hard to create something that I hope is unique and thought provoking. Creators deserve to be paid just as much as someone working in a conventional job. It’s all important work, but art is considered something soft and intangible. The benefits are not something you put on a spreadsheet. That’s why I support as many authors, artists, musicians and even podcasters as I can. I understand what it’s like to create something that was once just a thought or feeling and bring it into the physical world. The inspiration comes from communion with something deep and indefinable.
For years I bemoaned the fact that people just don’t appreciate the time and effort it takes to create a work of art. They want to buy that item cheap. I felt that they don’t understand the intangibles, the sense of connection and satisfaction that go into creating any kind of art. And that’s been my problem with earning money doing my creative work. I didn’t value my ability to bring something into this world that never would have existed had I not plugged into the well of creativity within me.
Since the Universe is made up of energy, and creativity and money are also made up of energy, then I need to change the way I feel about earning a living being creative. Like attracts like. If I value what I do, other people will too. I’m stating now that I LOVE WHAT I DO! Analyzing stories are my gateway to understanding my fellow human beings and that’s not a trivial pursuit.
I admit, I used to feel conflicted about being a creator. Conventional wisdom says everyone should get a job that pays well, work for 40 or 50 years, and then retire and finally live the life of their dreams. Now I say that’s bull hockey. At the time I quit teaching high school to write a book, people thought I was crazy. I even thought I was a little bit crazy. But I felt compelled to do it. As soon as I quit, I felt a whole lot lighter. In fact, once I made that decision, I remember having a feeling of deep elation that lasted for a couple of hours. It was confirmation that I was on the right track.
Sure, we lost income that my part-time teaching job at the college didn’t replace. But you know what, I was and am happy that I did that. When I was teaching high school I got up at 4:00 a.m. left home at 6:00 a.m. got to work at 7:00, taught until 2:00. Then did planning, or directed a play, or tutored until 4:00 or 4:30, drove home ate dinner, got ready for the next day and was in bed by 8:00 p.m. I did that for five years and let me tell you it took a toll on me. I didn’t have time for self-reflection, continuing to develop my relationship with Barry, or anyone else for that matter. I did want to write, but I didn’t have time. Every weekend was spent grading papers, lesson planning, or school events. Even my two months of summer vacation were taken up with teaching tasks.
Since 2008, I’ve been on a wonderful spiritual journey that I would never have been able to manage had I continued to teach until 2020 when I had completed my 20 or so years of full-time teaching. The bottom line is, that was NOT my calling. There are plenty of people who are called to work at regular jobs. I applaud them. I’m all for finding your place in the world. But sometimes creators are misunderstood by those who have different personalities and purposes in life.
I recently found a quote by Dale Carnegie from his famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People, “Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do. That’s a lot more profitable and intriguing than criticism; and it breeds sympathy, tolerance and kindness. ‘To know all is to forgive all.’ ” That’s what I aim to do with Story-Power, my online class, this blog and my books. I want to understand my fellow human beings. I think we get stuck in thinking everyone needs to be like us. Well, I know I think that a lot of the time. But lately I’ve come to feel that what I really need to do is look past all the outer behaviors to the true essence of the people I want to condemn. They are made of God stuff just like I am and deserve my honor and respect.
This post has kind of been all over the place but I’m declaring that I’m changing and seeing the world in a whole new way. I’m happy to be in a state of transformation.
I want to leave you with one last thought. Since I have been a storyteller as an actor, director, and writer, and love to analyze stories, this quote by Viola Davis I heard recently stuck out for me. She was chatting with Jennifer Lawrence for an episode of Variety’s “Actors on Acting” series. At the end of their conversation Viola said, “We’re human whisperers,” meaning actors are human whisperers. It’s their job to reflect back to us, who we are. I think that all artistic creators are human whisperers and we desperately need all of them right now if we are going to survive as a species. So, I embrace being a creator and hopefully am helping whisper myself and my fellow human beings home to our source.
Thanks for sticking with me and my musings. I appreciate your likes and comments.
Lucinda Sage-Midgorden © 2023
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories and what I can learn from them that I created the Story-Power podcast and Patreon communities so I’d have an excuse to talk story. You may have seen my Story-Power posts here. You will find several of my Story-Power guests sharing extra content, about books and their creative projects for my patrons. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
Saving the World One Story at a Time online course
The world is in such chaos right now that sometimes we need to get a perspective on what’s happening. I designed this course on Ûdemy for people who are looking for a way to get a better understanding about what it means to be a human being. Stories are one great way to walk in the shoes of the characters, connect with them emotionally and learn from their mistakes. Then taking what you’ve learned and use it out in the real world. It’s learning in a fun way! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, I hope to see you in class.
PodMatch
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat.
Sage Woman Chronicles 