I’m seeing artists in a couple of Discords I’m a part of saying how they’re feeling low, doubting themselves, some even wondering if all of it (being an artist) is pointless. And I know that feeling. It sucks. But we’re in the northern hemisphere. It’s the middle of winter. Give yourself a break.
The New Year ’s Eve was not that long ago. That magical time of the year when we all find ourselves going through our achievements. Comparing past years. Maybe we make resolutions. Maybe we tell ourselves “this is going to be the best year!”, and then a month into it not much changes and we’re left wondering if it even will (and forgetting there’s 11 more months in the year and an entire lifetime ahead). Life doesn’t have to revolve around a date someone set in the ancient past because we needed to track the passage of time. Sure, it’s useful to know that an entire year has past, but if you look at the cycles in nature, they don’t begin on January 1st. They don’t begin in the middle of winter either.
Today is February 11th and the sun is going to set around 5PM. The day is far too short this time of the year, and for most it’s already night by the time we finish all our chores and work. It’s cold. It’s dark. Winter is made for resting with homemade meals and warm beverages, not for starting new things when you’re low on energy (and most probably vitamin D deficient).
My advice is to leave your existential crisis till spring. See if you still feel this way when you’re outside in the warm sun with the birds chirping around you. Until then, maybe just take your vitamins, keep yourself warm, and relax with things that brings you joy.