Brian Roffino
Writer * Worldbuilder * Life Coach
Soul Pancake’s “My Last Days” Rocks
In a political climate where frustration and anger abounds, it is nice to find and celebrate positivity.
Soul Pancake (a YouTube channel and collective of Rainn Wilson and other smart people trying to make the world better) has a series called “My Last Days” about people who are nearing death.
Death happens. It will happen to all of us. Since what comes after is so unknown, this can be scary as hell, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, remarkably, being reminded of death can offer a different lens with which to view life. Remembering death can help people evaluate what it means for us each to live well.
Want a reminder about life and being positive? Want to reframe the way you see everything in your life to make sure that when death hits closer to home you aren’t filled with regrets? Then watch a little of this 22 minute video about Zach Sobiech, a dying seventeen year old diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. What does it make you want to do more of and less of?
Go do it then, and write about it. Go live your life well, and let us know what this means and looks like for you.
Welcome Back! Writing and Worlds!
Change happens and we have to grow and adapt.
After a hiatus, I’m back and with a slightly different focus. Rather than just musings on society and culture (and my own works), I’ll be focusing a great deal on one of my favorite aspects of storytelling: worldbuilding.
Since I’m also a writing instructor/professor these days, I’ll also be sharing some good things to know about writing, both for college and for narratives.
Here’s to exploring with you all in the next few years.
Makin Time for Doin’ What You Do
I’ve been way too busy for my own good lately. Mostly stuff I put on my own plate, so to speak (which is another issue, but not one for today). But the other day, I reminded myself of a great lesson:
We have to make time in our busy lives for our art!
Let’s start with the second half of that first. What is our art? Well, to some in Texas, that means “huntin” (this is similar to hunting, but a little more redneck – and NOT in a bad way). To at least one friend of mine, this means making stained glass. To another, it means writing screenplays. But this does NOT include Facebook games or shopping. There are thousands of things we can do as humans that with effort we can improve at. Learning an instrument or another language. Building furniture. Arranging and decorating rooms. Creating music or writing poetry. Painting wall murals. Assembling culinary masterpieces. Whatever we love to do that we enjoy investing time in and, therefore, getting better at – THAT is our art.
The first part of the statement above is a little more obvious, but more difficult to do. How do we cut time out of our lives to make sure our art is prioritized? However we can, friend. Me? Well, glad you asked. I joined me a choir where I muddle through sight reading and keeping pace with the other singers. It’s sometimes a bit of a trainwreck, and other times (generally out of sheer dumb luck) I hit the right notes at the right times. It kind of feels good to see progress too.
The other night, I really wanted to just relax and boob out (translation: feet up, TV on), but I forced myself through sheer Jedi Mind Will (on myself…) to go to choir practice. Two hours later, after a bit of real focus and work, I realized I felt great. Working at your “art” means investing time in something and recouping experience. Art growth is always a worthy endeavor, and whatever yours may be, it’s often just what is needed to unwind from the stressors of our task-related culture.
So don’t forget it, friend. Make the time to work for whatever art brings you bliss. You’ll thank me later. Or rather, you’ll thank yourself.
