A Pep Talk

 As you may have noticed, I didn't have a blog post for you at the beginning of this week. That's because things have been difficult...like really difficult lately, and I haven't known what to say about it. I sometimes struggle with the pressure of remaining honest and authentic on this platform, while also not making myself too vulnerable. All you need to know is: these past two weeks have been strained. I felt it, Eli and I felt it. The distance between us continuously left its mark, and resulted in tension. The distance between us mirrored distance that hasn’t happened in other places, (i.e. my having never left home) and that too is causing a strain. 

 So what do you do when you have a ton of strain and a lot of sour things being handed your way? There’s really only one option. You channel Beyoncé and you make lemonade. Literally. We did that. But listen, I'm going to be real with you-- the lemonade was good, but I don't feel like my problems are solved in the slightest. I still have an incredible amount of tension and anxiety swirling around in this body of mine, and I think only time will solve it. 

 But instead of dwelling on these things that only overwhelm me, I'm going to share with you a little pep talk I just wrote myself. At the beginning of every month in my monthly calendar, there is a space dedicated to "Monthly Notes." I use this space to write myself a little motivational speech each month. So, here, for your pepping pleasure, is the pep talk I wrote for myself for the month of July.

 "Work. Make great art. Spend every second you have taking every opportunity that comes your way. Don't let anyone shame you for how hard you work. You aren't running from anything. That's bullshit. You're running toward your dreams, because you've waited long enough for them, and you're going after them. Make your life what you want it to be, because it belongs to you. As long as you're not addicted to drugs or living on the street, you aren't doing it wrong. As long as you have love in your life, you're on the right path."

-Fran