Striving or Surviving: Are We Impressing or Improving?
Good Tidings Friend!
It turns out I have much more to say than I originally thought, so from here on out, this newsletter will be bi-weekly! I’m thrilled to have you all on this journey with me. Who knows where it’ll lead? Shall we venture onward—into the great unknown?
“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.”
― Frank Lloyd Wright
Striving or Surviving: Are We Impressing or Improving?
We are all exhausted—mentally, physically, and at the core of our very being. Our voices are hoarse from “soap-box” passion speeches, desperate to be heard. Our ears, over saturated with noise, have absorbed more than they can bear, leaving our own thoughts muddled. And that’s before we even touch on politics or current events. This drained feeling isn’t new—it lingers. We try, we push, we persist. And then, we try again.
In a world that demands we stay on guard, it’s easy to harden ourselves to everything, including the very things that could heal us. But true strength isn’t about building impenetrable walls; it’s about standing firm in who we are while staying open to growth, connection, and change. As Brené Brown puts it best in her book Braving the Wilderness:
“Strong back, soft front, wild heart. Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
Philosophy of the Week:
con·tem·pla·tion (noun)
The action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time.
Deep reflective thought.
The state of being thought about or planned.
The urge to be heard has always been woven into us. Our ancestors carved their voices into stone, painted stories on cave walls, and created symbols to transcend time—pictographs, hieroglyphs, entire languages. They even trained an entire species of birds to carry their words across great distances.
And now, with limitless ways to communicate, we still find ourselves with more to say.
But perhaps, in all this speaking, we forget the power of silence. Maybe contemplation itself is a form of communication—one that requires no words, just the willingness to listen.
Day2Day Survival Tip:
Rethinking ‘Bad Hair Days’—We’ve all had them. The mornings when no amount of styling seems to help, every strand seems to rebel, and no matter how many pleads with the hair gods we make, it’s still a bad hair day.
But maybe the problem isn’t your hair, but how you’re seeing it. Just like your mind needs a break, so does your hair. Constant manipulation, tight styles, and excessive product buildup can lead to stress—yes, even for your strands.
What if, instead of fighting, you give your hair a day (or two) off. Let it breathe, let it be, and exist in its natural state. Do what you can to make it somewhat socially presentable by the count of 10. Then simply embrace the chaos, it could be the easiest solution. Not every battle needs to be fought, after all, we all have a bad hair day.
Words of Wisdom:
Having had the honor of visiting some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs over the years, including one right here in Alabama just recently—I’m reminded of the power of persistence, vision, and the courage to create.
His work stands as a testament to what’s possible when we push ourselves beyond comfort, beyond doubt, and into what could be. Inspiration isn’t just something we stumble upon; it’s something we cultivate through determination, through the act of simply keeping at it.
Frank Lloyd Wright put it wonderfully:
“As we work along our various ways, there takes shape within us, in some sort, an ideal - something we are to become - some work to be done. This, I think, is denied to very few, and we begin really to live only when the thrill of this ideality moves us in what we will to accomplish.”
― Frank Lloyd Wright, (1901) The Art and Craft of the Machine
As we navigate the complexities of life and the noise of the world, remember that your attention is your most valuable resource. Choose wisely where to direct it, and don’t be afraid to let go of distractions that do not serve your growth or well-being.
I hope this edition of Minds In Motion has sparked new thoughts and perspectives for you. Let’s keep this journey going, one idea at a time.
Until next time,
Guthrie
Btw..
What I’m currently reading, Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird
What I read last month,How to Stop Timeby Matt Haig
