When a character grows from the start of the story to the end, the middle is usually unflattering to that character in some ways. They get emotional. They are exhausted. They may fail or wander as if lost. It’s a universal aspect of storytelling. That’s because it’s true to life.
Pushing past boundaries requires full effort, even that which we usually reserve for saving face and buttoning up.
My online presence right now is a mess. I’ve got scattered websites and abandoned efforts and brands. Disparate descriptions of what it is that I’m doing or what I’m about can be found anywhere I’ve ever written about myself, I’m sure, and while these symptoms sometimes indicate someone who lacks purpose and focus, I can happily say that’s not the case with me.
I wanted to write this not as an account for where I’ve been, because that’s not interesting or dramatic in the slightest. But I wonder if we, as a species, would do well to forgive a little bit of fruitful dishevelment now and again–both with ourselves and others.
