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On Being an Enthusiast

As it turns out, I’m a beast in winter, and I become a torture to those I’m with. But at the same time, I’m kind of known (not known?) as a relentless enthusiast. And I’m here today to encourage you to try same, in your own way.

This next week I’m going to be working on an essay that I’ve had in my brain for the last year and a half — about my love for Bruce Springsteen, and just wholeheartedly loving his music, his essence, his Bruce-ness. And how loving something without really over thinking it, has transformed me. I’ve also been thinking about how I’d really rather be a positive force, even though that is often considered to be a kind of light-weight stance. I keep thinking about the Titanic, and the musicians who went down with the ship playing. And again, about how we need to claim our expertise.

What happens if you decide to just embrace something you love? Be a champion for that thing? What if you decided to look at things from a positive viewpoint? Why is this considered to be light weight? Where is the strength in this vantage point? How does it change you? Is this way of looking not also part of the critical apparatus?

How we look at the world is how we are, and this is how the world is shaped, yes? What if we considered the opposite? What if we were relentlessly freaking positive?

Because you know what? WE ARE ALL DYING EVERY SECOND! So could you please show me the flowers? Thank you and kind regards. And Ps. Please tell me what you love, what you are enthused by…..I am standing by.


January 17, 2020