Dear Reader,

It has happened to me again.

Social rights have always been close to my heart, in the world and especially in my country. Nowadays, I’m preoccupied with some aspects of the nation like never before.

Racial insults, hatred, playing with human lives. We have been there 80 years ago, I don’t want that again, nor in my life nor never.

I feel preoccupation, the pressure to do something, I’m fantasising about future troubles that have yet to come (but may). My ability to be productive and to stay in good humour is drifting away.

Before we go on, beware: this is not a political blog, and I don’t think it will never turn “political” in the sense of siding with a faction or another.

What I must realise, again and again, is that worrying about things outside my sphere of influence can only lead to distractions, to less work done, less quality, less motivation and less growth. That can drive, on a larger scale and in the long run, to dreadful consequences: a nation whose eyes have been averted from the evildoers, whose energy is devoted against someone and no more toward a better future.

Instead, doing small things right can lead to positive change, on a personal and on a larger scale. That’s what I should be doing!

My true hope is that everyone realizes this, and we should go on building a better future. I’m convinced that humanity, despite hatred, wars, difficulties, has evolved and has become richer (see this post). We can do that over and over again if we apply.

Back to good work. Back to good practice. Back to avoiding distractions.

I know I quoted Gaiman before, but this acts like a mantra:

Make good art.

I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by mutated boa constrictor? Make good art. IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art. Somebody on the Internet thinks what you do is stupid or evil or it’s all been done before? Make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, and eventually time will take the sting away, but that doesn’t matter. Do what only you do best. Make good art.

Make it on the good days too.

Neil Gaiman

Until next time, keep sharp.