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  Sara Rosinsky • Shiny Red Copy

sara's Shiny red blog

Enough with the aphorisms, advice, and pithy Pinterest platitudes.

8/6/2018

10 Comments

 
Picture
I think it all started with the Holstee Manifesto. You know the one—the all-caps declaration that "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" followed by a series of bossy commandments: "DO WHAT YOU LOVE, AND DO IT OFTEN. IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, CHANGE IT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR JOB, QUIT." Etc., etc., etc. All available as an 18"x24" letterpress poster for just $36 plus tax and shipping.

All over the interwebs, I'm told that I'm supposed to dance like no one is watching and love like I've never been hurt. I'm supposed to live fearlessly, forgive indiscriminately, and eat dessert first. I need to keep my chin up. Follow my heart. Let go of the past and embrace opportunity. Behave like my dog. Laugh like a child. I'm just making this stuff up now. I could go on for days.

Here's the thing: 90% of what gives these commandments their appeal is their design. They're carefully typeset or charmingly hand-lettered. They're writ large on rustic farmhouse-style faux-distressed wood. They feature frolicking children and adorable kittens.

They're worded irresistibly, too. Authoritative. Simple. And concise. How nice: The secret to happiness can fit right on my phone screen.

But here's the thing. Life isn't simple. It's full of deadlines and disappointments and dry cleaning. Sure, dancing and laughter are lovely, and I try to work them in as appropriate. But I've got other things to get done. I need to vacuum. Get my tires rotated. And floss my teeth.

And don't tell me what I'm going to regret on my deathbed, because frankly, my stint on my deathbed (if I even have that luxury) will be but a minuscule fraction of my entire life. It doesn't really count for all that much, in my book.

So, thanks for all the advice, Holstee and everybody else. I'll give it some thought. And then I'll get on with the business of living my unique life—with all its mundane challenges, delights, and experiences, and its irreducible complexity.


To leave or read comments, just click on the red "comments" link at the top of this post.
10 Comments
Michael Blumfield link
8/6/2018 07:27:40 pm

"Vacuum like no one is watching!"

"Pay bills with gusto!"

"Today is the day -- that your dry cleaning will be available for pickup!"

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
8/6/2018 07:29:13 pm

LOL.

Reply
Anne link
12/14/2018 08:10:45 pm

wheezing with laughter. can’t find my anti-zen pillow list, so maybe i’ll borrow some of your lines! now I remember...it’s never too late to shut the *#%& up! maybe on a film noir background, dark and dreary.

Reply
Andrew Duvall
2/24/2019 11:33:27 am

Well done, Sara. I am proud of the fact that your writing abilities have been honed so well, and you are proud to be able to show it. Makes me happy!

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
2/24/2019 12:51:35 pm

Thank you so much! I'm one of the lucky folks who gets to do what I love for a living.

Reply
Jerry Edling
2/27/2019 07:25:44 am

Bravo, Sara You nailed it.

On a similar note, we had a running joke at my office about motivational posters that invite you to "soar with th he eagles" and pep talks by CEOs that overuse sports metaphors. ("It's fourth and goal. Are you ready to carry the ball?")

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
2/27/2019 09:23:15 am

Are you familiar with despair.com? I love it so much.

Reply
Jerry Edling
2/27/2019 01:20:25 pm

I checked it out. It's excellent.

Miles R link
2/9/2021 05:56:13 pm

Great readiing your post

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
2/9/2021 06:39:47 pm

Well, thank you!

Reply

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