“We are not just consumers; we are creators.” — Andy Mort, The Gentle Rebel Podcast “Connected”
For most people around the world, we’re in about Week 5 of shelter-where-you-are, aka isolation. When you take away the distractions — other people, taking kids to schools / classes / events, going out to do something — you are left with what you can do at home. When you’re left with home activities, you may find your distractions aren’t as many or as varied as usual. Lack of distraction can lead us to being with ourselves, whether we want it or not. For some, that can be frightening. For others, it can be enlightening.
As I was listening to Andy’s podcast, his words (cited above) suddenly tied together everything I’d been pondering for the past couple of weeks.
We have created a society that requires a ‘normal’ standard, from how we look to how our immune system should run. This standard includes being a consumer. However, we exult people who escape this standard (ie, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Oprah Winfrey, Marie Curie). These people are usually creating something new or have used old ideas in new ways. We admire and strive for creativity and to be recognised for our unique contributions to the world; however, as Jane-public, we seldom seem to get there.
As we sit and watch yet another night of Netflix, some of us may feel a gentle yet persistent tap on our hearts — there’s got to be more to life than this.
This is your inner YOU nudging you, letting you know that you’re not being YOU.
Do you dream of writing that novel, of learning a new language, of compiling all those photographs into a portfolio or scrapbook? Instead of sitting on your ass and watching Netflix or clicking Amazon yet again, be your creative self. Allow you to be YOU as you truly are.
This nudge that’s telling you, “There’s got to be more than this,” is, in fact, nudging you toward your individuality. It’s an individuality that only you can achieve. You are a human being, a unique entity, capable of individual contributions to your community and our planet. Why aren’t you expressing this individuality?
Fear.
You’ve forgotten how.
You’ve forgotten who you are.
We self-sabotage our efforts because we are afraid of breaking from our tribe.
I’ve written before on being different, but maybe that message was out of time. Maybe the nudge to your heart couldn’t be heard above the distractions. Maybe now you can see that expressing your individuality is essential so that you don’t wither away in front of the TV or computer. It is essential to your wellbeing.
It is also essential to our entire planet. We need individuals and not clones, robots, drones who mindlessly consume and go along with the status quo. Now is the time for individuals to shine, to create your own status quo in the way you want it.
Now that you can see and feel that something is wrong, out of place, or just not right, do something about it. Don’t placate the feeling with more retail therapy; dive into the sensation.
What is your heart telling you it needs?
Further Reading
Andy Mort – A Home for Gentle Rebels
Jacob Nordby – The Inner Wisdom of Sketchy, Half-Baked Creativity
A. J. Mahari – Shopping as an Emotional Distraction
George Kinder (author of “Seven Stages of Money Maturity“) – Kinder Institute of Life Planning
Bold Introvert – Stuck in the Suck
The Reluctant Archaeologist 
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