Let's Get Uncomfortable (Uncomfortable) (Patreon)

If you're anywhere near my age demographic, the above image is instantly recognizable as Olivia Newton John and her hit song Let's Get Physical (and I am so sorry that it's now stuck in your head...but not sorry enough to not use it). If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Google it. Watch the video. Be glad the 80's had their time in the sun, but are no longer.

We'll get back to ONJ, but let's backtrack a little. I, like many authors and editors that I've spoken to, am a little behind. The current atmosphere is...not good. It's hard to be creative and whimsical when everything is a rancid, imploding Dumpster fire. I've also had my focus on other things, like protesting.

I have to say that protesting is hard for me. Not the actual resistance part. I'm fine with dissent. It's the actual form it takes. I hate the phone (except for texting). I have a hard time calling my representitives, but I've been doing it. I went to the Women's March in Seattle, even though the idea of being stuck downtown all day marching with no easy ability to leave and no way to really plan makes me feel panicked and claustrophobic. (This, by the way, is how I also feel about all day music festivals.) I just want to leave and go back to my den and be comfortable.

I planned as best as I could to get past all of this. I looked at routes, wrote things down, and packed snacks, water, emergency cash, my bus pass,  etc. into my backpack. I went with smart, level-headed friends. And I had to remind myself that it wasn't just me, but that we'd take care of eachother. My friend's husband, who also happens to be one of my oldest friends, packed extra water for us--in case we were gassed. Because he's protested in Seattle before and we don't have the best track record for such things. It was a strangely touching gesture. Man Friend helped me prepare my sign, pack, and then told me to, "try to not get arrested, because we don't have any bail money." (This probably seems callous to many of you, but know that A) we have a strange relationship B) I actually find such banter endearing C) I said worse things to him when he got arrested and D) he was a huge supporter of me marching.) A strange comfort, these things, but a comfort.

The large amount of people, really, is what made me so uncomfortable. There are a lot of unknown factors in a crowd, and you never really know how things are going to turn. Also, crowds totally wipe me out emotionally. I think I slept for about ten hours after the march. I'm not a good sleeper, so that was significant.

But every time I started to get freaked out about going, I reminded myself that being uncomfortable is good even though it feels lousy. Because change and growth don't come when you're comfotable. Remember growing pains as a kid? That shit hurt. Ever watch a crab shed thier shell? They don't do it for kicks when everything is going great. It only happens when the shell is too small and doesn't fit them anymore. Then they molt and for a short, scary time, they're incredbly vulnerable until they grow a new shell. It's a laborious process, but not only does it shed the too-small exoskeleton, it also helps them get rid of parasites and barnacles. Nature is amazing and disgusting.

Change is scary, terrifying, exhausting and painful, but it can also be so wonderful once you get through it. It was good for me to go out and stand for something I believe in and support the people who are near and dear to me. I want, for lack of a prettier analogy, to be the crab.

When you're writing, you also want to be the crab. You want ONJ in the back of your head cheering you on to Get Uncomfortable. (Neon spandex optional.) If you're not uncomfortable, you're not growing as a writer. Not everything you create has to be groundbreaking. Personally, I don't need that kind of pressure. But you should be pushing yourself to be a little bit better each time and try new things. Sometimes you will fail. Your experiment won't work and your story souffle will collapse. But that's how we learn and grow.

I've now mixed so many metaphors into this post that it's bordering on nonsensical. What I guess I'm saying is to go out there, create, grow, get uncomfortable, and be the best Olivia Newton John baking crabs that you can be.

(PS I'm posting this for my blog level only people for now, but if it's okay with you guys, I might make it available to everyone in a few days.)