52 things.

In recent months I've been feeling a lack of artistic creativity. With some consideration I can see a steady decline since my university days nearly two decades ago. It's a weird feeling. I remember what is what like to be more creative. The memory of how effortless it seemed at one time stands in harsh contrast with how much effort I've made lately on a specific project and come up with nothing.

A friend of mine, Thomas, started an amazing project 26 weeks ago that I didn't bother to look at until this past Sunday. Thomas reminded me of his project after I was lamenting to him my lack of creativity. The project is called 52 Things. In a nutshell, he made a public oath to post a new creative work to his website by bedtime Sunday every week for a year, be it good, bad or ugly.

His results are inspiring. Also inspiring is an excellent short video he points to by Ze Frank entitled Brain Crack. This addresses another problem I've always had: even for the fairly good ideas, I rarely produce them. I hold onto them, waiting for the time to work on them uninterrupted, or some more polishing of the idea. In the end they still exist mostly just in my mind.

I've been telling anyone who asks my age since February that I am 40 years old. In fact, I'm 39. Two of my friends also turned 40 this year, so in a show of comradeship we decided to all tackle the new age together on the first of our birthdays and just claim we rolled over into the new decade of life. The true date is a couple of weeks away for me. Perhaps this is why I've decided it is time to take action.

I'm going to embark on my own 52 Things voyage. Good, bad or ugly, I'm going to post something every week. Software, music, video, story, photograph, sculpture, painting. Whatever. Something.

I've decided to post these items to my longtime blog AkuAku despite the fact that I've been posting more often to my vox blog lately. It gives me more flexibility since I control the server.

I hope to accomplish good things, but I will take whatever comes and try to build on my failures and successes. I must go now, it's Thursday already and I need to figure out a project for this week.

Comments

[Paul]

That's a great idea. Almost like an artistic exercise regime. It's only Wednesday though, so you have an extra 24hrs!

[dav]

Doh. It's Thursday in Japan.

[Mie]

Yay. I love this idea and look forward to watching you have fun!!

[Michelle]

sweet. hope our faux commercial makes the cut.

[Thomas]

That's so cool that you're taking the plunge with this! I'm looking forward to seeing what you put together and I'm sure you're going to enjoy the journey.