A Path Toward Creative Bravery
Letting go of my fear of being perceived to aid a revolution.
Last Spring, I quit my corporate job. I worked in marketing for about 7 years, and a year in the editorial world before then.
Throughout that time, there was a part of me repulsed by my conformity to this system, one that didn't fully embrace my identity and creative individuality but tried grooming it into something submissive. I wasn't aware of it when I pursued a higher education that initiated the indoctrination—maybe I can pin it on the ongoing development of my brain's executive functions back then.
As the years went on, as much as I tried to assimilate, the rejection grew more substantial, manifesting itself in poor mental hygiene. Eventually, things improved, though I'd rather save those details for another essay. Still, for the point of this introduction, I'll share that I found healthier work environments that gave me access to collaborative communities with other artists. Even so, I continued witnessing unbalanced power structures and abusive labor practices, all while a societal collapse unfolded.
Despite my (somewhat) financial security and the materialistic and social perks I gained, I realized that it would be hard to escape my distaste for the corporate world. By contributing to it with my labor, I would only make the collective struggle worse.
My decision to quit my corporate job resulted from an accumulation of factors, but as I contemplated what that would mean for me, I had decided that by resigning, I was resisting an oppressive force and embracing my artistry as a writer—a passion I always wanted to pursue but avoided because of creative blockages, trauma, and fear.
After quitting, I started working on a novel on the effects of imperialism within the framework of generational trauma. It's still a work in progress. However, as political tensions have risen, I realized I am responsible for making my voice heard. I've been working on a collection of personal and social analysis essays since the COVID outbreak, and following the outcome of the election and the UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination, I figured it might be time to make some of my writing public. So, I pivoted, landing me here.
As a goal in 2025, I am letting go of my fear of being perceived and contributing to the revolution with my essays. The first one I plan to publish to Substack is titled "A Collective Awakening: Someone Ate the Rich, So What Now?" I wrote it at the end of last year.
I am still unemployed and seeking a new source of income, so your support would mean so much to me. If my words resonate, feel free to subscribe/follow, share, and pay for the bonus content if it's within your means.
I'm excited to find community amongst comrades, artists, and academics. Thank you for making space for me.