Progress, Changing Seasons, and Zines
Hello all. It’s been a minute and while I’m not here for any huge mental deep dives, there are few things that have been on my mind that I wanted to share.
Progress
Last night I came across a post from @richunschooler. It was a simple statement in the image that caught my attention: “Progress is an addiction.”
Maybe it was because it was late, or maybe it was because I’ve been thinking a lot about how I spent my time and energy on personal endeavors, but it hit me like a brick in the face. Yes, because the statement rings true for me, but also because I felt there was just so much to unpack.
I think a lot about how we colloquially use the term addiction and how we attach it to various pleasurable activities. I think what most people mean when they use the word addiction in this way is in reference to the little dopamine hit that is generated from a single event, and then how we seek out that hit again and again regardless of whether the activity in itself is pleasurable or even good for us. Reaching the next level in a video game, the first bite of ice cream, a like on a social media post, and yes, the sense of accomplishment from completing a project or task.
In this sense, I suppose progress for the sake of progress without intention and purpose can fill this definition of addiction. Capitalist culture is full of these little dopamine hits and I think progress is definitely a part of that package. I’ve really enjoyed learning lessons from Tricia Hersey and others about the power of rest, especially as a tool to fight against oppressive systems. Rest as resistance is a powerful statement that resonnates strongly with me.
But, progress can also be a really good thing (obviously) and complacency in the place of progression is a dangerous habit to fall into these days. I also think that it’s actually a good thing that progress and accomplishment feel good. Like ice cream and video games, even if we might call the dopamine hit we get from a sense of accomplishment an “artificial” hit, it is there to help us keep moving forward.
I (along with many others) have a horrible habit of turning personal passion projects into work and when that happens, the enjoyment runs dry and I’m left feeling committed to something that doesn’t feel fun anymore. So I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea of progress for the sake of progress, about pushing through on these projects because I don’t want to “fail”. Progress in the way that our capitalist colonial culture demands is different than feel good progress that is born out of a creative need, and I think that’s an important distinction that I was struggling to make before I saw the post.
So, thanks to @richunschooler for stirring up these thoughts for me today and inspiring me to take the time to write them down.
Changing Seasons
It’s getting colder here in Ontario and I’ve been busy processing food from the garden to get everything ready for the winter season. Saying goodbye to summer is always hard but I’ve been lucky to stumble across some amazing words that have reminded me that the seasonal change is always welcome as I get ready to slow down and go into hibernation mode for the cold season.
I recently bought a zine from flowerpeoplefarm and was delighted by the selection of poetry that reminded me that fall and winter have their own beauty and rhythm. Highly recommened.
And likewise, I subscribe to Gods&Radicals that published a great post today on the changing of the seasons that’s worth sharing.
The moral of the story: words and art can help sooth rough transitions and I should lean on this more often.
Zine
Finally, I’m working on a zine. It’s a bit of words and a bit of art and it’s taking way longer than I want it to but I’m trying to embrace the journey and not just the destination (see notes on progress above). I’m not sure how to share this zine with the world other than to have it in print at the table at the farmer’s market and make it available online for people to buy if they’d like to.
I have dream about multiple editions and self-publishing and maybe even resurrecting my old intersectional unschooling essay into print format but I’m also wary of trying to be to BIG about all of this. So for now, I think I’ll stay quite small, but if this is something that sounds like it might be cool, send me a nudge and I’ll likely be more inspired to help it grow :)