The Daily Brick 2008 - Day 24

Since last Wednesday, I've felt creatively paralyzed, like somebody fitted me in a full body cast cleverly constructed using my own unrealistic expectations and self-doubt.

Instead of trying to find a way of freeing myself by writing or pursuing some other creative outlet, I've been wallowing in negativity and pouring my spare energy into volunteering at Cinequest, hiking, and playing The Sims. (Actually, I started playing The Sims yesterday in the name of research for The Daily Brick.)

I hate this feeling. I hate feeling stuck. What I hate most is that this feeling is self-created and self-imposed. I'm the one who put this cast on me and if I take a second to think about it, this cast isn't real. These expectations aren't real. Whatever rules or conditions I've set in place aren't real.

Over the course of this month-long challenge known as Thing a Day, I lost sight of the goal. The purpose of the challenge was to get people to create something every day. There was no requirement that it be something smart, funny, clever, or good. The only requirement was that it be something. One thing. Every day.

By that standard, I failed the challenge. Of course, because I was participating unofficially, that means I only failed unofficially. That also means I have the power to bend the rules and redefine success and failure.

This is a 29-day challenge. This morning's strip is counts as Thing #24. That means I still have to do five more strips to successfully complete the challenge. And I will complete it. (That last sentence was more for me than for you.)