I Dream of Writing

And Surprisingly, I'm Wearing Pants

Hello, and welcome to the beginning of something?

I don't know why there's a question mark, but let's keep moving forward. I want to share a confession that many of us in this beautifully confusing information age can relate to.

My confession is this: I'm a consumer. I consume so much content throughout the day that it feels draining. Whether scrolling through endless social media feeds, reading countless newsletters, or watching hours of YouTube videos, it's a constant influx of information. Switching to Substack as my primary social media platform has lessened the drain somewhat, but it's still there.

I understand why it happens—overconsumption is, without a doubt, a form of gluttony. And gluttony, whether for food, information, or anything else, is bad for the mind, body, and spirit.

So, during the day, I consume. But what happens at night?

I dream. I dream of writing posts that connect with others, breaking down my thoughts in ways that help me better understand myself. I dream of creating stupidly fun things with code and robot parts and building games with my kids. I dream of creation.

Through creation, I find happiness. It calms me and makes getting into a playful mindset with my wife and kids easier, making me even happier. If I'm honest, that's the case for most of us.

Plus, I want my kids to say, "Dad always made some cool stuff."

So why do I spend my waking hours consuming?

The answer is simple yet terrifying: I'm afraid my creations won't match my dreams. I'm scared that I'm not a creator, that my ideas are stale, and that my thoughts aren't unique. I'm scared that what I create won't be useful to others. This fear becomes a waking nightmare.

But deep down, I know who's I am. I know there's nothing to fear in my spirit, even if my mind and flesh sometimes overpower that knowledge. It's easy to forget that the act of creation is still valuable, no matter how imperfect.

So, here I am. I've created something. I'm doing this for my kids and myself. I need to show my children that we all have the capacity for creation. If you're alive, you can create something extraordinary.

P.S:

I left bed to write this in about 30 minutes, inspired by Viam 30-day writing challenge. I'm calling mine "30 Days of Just Creating Something." Thank you, Viam and other Substackers for creating a platform that encourages me to make, not just consume.

Now, I want to hear from you. Do you also need help consuming and creating content? What dreams of creation linger in your mind, waiting for their moment?

Please share your thoughts in the comments, and let's start a conversation about overcoming the fear that holds us back from creating.