It’s been a while…
But I think I’m back?
Hello to everyone who is still here!
My writer’s brain is refreshed and I think I’m ready to step back into Medium. I apologize for my ghost-like departure, and want to say I missed being on the platform here. I really just exhausted myself very quickly, but the whole point of this article is going to be explaining why I took a break and what I’ve been doing in my absence!
The Reason I Took a Break
So, when I left Medium, it wasn’t really a decision I made, it just kind of happened. I had been keeping myself hard on a daily upload schedule and I didn’t realize how much that was frying my creativity, until one day I just didn’t want to write anymore.
I found my brain shifting further back over into my photography work, and my heart followed. I realized I wanted to start prioritizing that again, and I was very bad at focusing on two passions at once, so the writing really took a hit.
I never wanted to post anything half-assed on this page, so I just stopped altogether.
When the photography urges finally started to even back out, I found myself caught up in the thralls of early Summer. I went on lots of drives and adventures with my best friend, and made some new friends along the way.
There were also periods where my mental state would take dives where I really didn’t feel like doing anything at all, much less writing an article.
Then more recently I found another passion to take up my time, but also one that has led me back to Medium. I’ve decided to learn guitar.
Pickin’ and Grinnin’
My whole guitar adventure started a few months ago when I went to a local thrift shop, and sitting in the back of the store was a beat up, raggedy old knockoff Stratocaster. Playing guitar was always a desire I had in the back of my head, but never really gave much thought. I decided to check the price and I was elated to see it was only $10. I decided to pick it up, even if I didn’t learn with it, I could always just re-sell it and make my money back.
When I got it home I took off the capo that was on it, and listed it on eBay for $15 and it sold within the day, so… free guitar.
I immediately decided since I knew absolutely nothing about guitars to message a guitarist who would definitely have the knowledge I needed — Medium’s very own, David Acaster.
David gave me lots of great advice on getting started and helping identify the guitar I had. To be honest, I don’t think I would’ve even gotten started had it not been for David’s encouraging words, so I am very grateful for that.
I’ve been going to a local brewery every Saturday night for about two or three months now watching a great local artist and good friend; Randy Flack. One night when he was done playing I decided to ask for his thoughts, and once again, I received some great words of advice, and I decided to really jump into it.
I kept practicing on the awful electric I had, just to make sure I was going to be able to dedicate myself to it, and eventually hit the point where I was fully hooked. I ended up buying an Epiphone J-45 and so here we are.
I’m not good yet by any means, but I’m just allowing myself to take it slow and learn at my own pace. The most recent thing I’ve been working on is being able to play “Feathered Indians” by Tyler Childers. It’s taken me two days to get the first couple bars down pat but hey — it’s progress.
Let’s Talk!
I think I’m back! I am going to learn from last time and really take it slow, so don’t expect the same strict schedule I kept before, but I am back nonetheless.
I want to mention David Acaster one more time and thank him for the kind mention in this great article he wrote, and tell y’all to go check that out!
I have a long story in the works talking about everything I’ve been listening to over this time that will be out in a day or two, but for now, feel free to comment here if there’s anything in particular you’d like me to check out or write about. You can also just update me on what I’ve been missing here while gone!
Thanks to anyone who stuck around through the hiatus and read this to the end, I am glad to be back.
I normally plug old stories I’ve written down here, but today I’ll plug my photography website:
