The Night Owl Flies Again
When I was younger, I loved staying up late. Some nights I’d play guitar or watch a movie, but mostly I was a traveler on the information superhighway, fueled by curiosity, dreams, and innocence. There was something special about the pre-social media days of the internet. It was raw and hideously beautiful. User experience hadn’t yet been codified and commodified. There wasn’t an algorithm stalking us relentlessly, websites were more than receptacles for ads and cookies, and every so often, you’d see a fellow traveler and strike up a conversation.
But much like the internet changed over the years, I did too. Responsibilities entered the picture, and the night owl got a day job. At first I told myself that I enjoyed going to bed early so I could get up early enough to face the day; lying to yourself is one way to enforce change. Eventually, I didn’t have to say or do anything at all, my sleep patterns were set in circadian stone.
A funny thing happens when change is thrust upon you. You remember who you used to be. I loved staying up late because the world was quiet. Still is... Now, my wife goes to bed before me. I grab my journal, a book, and sit on the couch with the dog snoring, inching ever closer to me.
One book I’m reading is Wisdom Takes Work: Learn. Apply. Repeat. by Ryan Holiday. I love this quote from the chapter, “Embrace the Mystery,” because it reminds me of how the late hours of the night make me feel:
“The artist revels in the indescribable. The physicist ponders the unseeable. The philosopher considers the unknowable.” – Ryan Holiday
It’s harder to stay up late, I can’t read as much as I’d like to, but there is peace. Curiosity still wanders through my mind. I am calm. The night owl flies again, older, maybe wiser, definitely more tired.
Making Mistakes Again (GWTW878)
Do you ever feel like you’re making the same mistakes over and over again? Yeah, me too. There are some parts of my life and work where curiosity and experimentation are endless, but when it comes to money, I’m stuck on a treadmill of feast and famine. I know enough of the lingo to talk a good game, but really, I’m still doing business like I did when I started 20 years ago. Underneath it all, I’m stuck in a shame spiral wondering if it will ever change. The truth is that something broke a long time ago and instead of fixing it, I kept repeating my mistakes making the break worse and worse. But as I watch my wife heal from a broken leg, it’s time for me to heal my own brokenness.
“Building a Sound Career and a Meaningful Life” with Robb Mills (BYI08)
I’m always fascinated with stories of how people have built long-lasting and sustainable careers. But what happens when someone burns out doing something they love, decides to learn a new trade, and ends up not only rebuilding a career but creates a more meaningful life in the process? That is the story of Robb Mills, an independent audio contractor for over 20 years, working on films and video games as a sound designer and music composer. From the hustle and grind of his early days to resetting his life with yoga therapy, Robb candidly shares story after story of honing his craft around his love for sound and music while serving and sharing life with others.
Newsletter Notes:
Tonight’s sonic soundtrack is Legends, Myths and Lavender by Stephan Moccio.
The photo in the graphic above is Asian barred owlet in the darkness from Envato Elements.
I set the title type above with Westsac designed by Chank Diesel.
