blockage

Writing can be hard.

Sometimes an idea comes and you can ‘stream of consciousness’ it straight out. It can be as simple as opening a window and letting it in.

Of course then there are times when there isn’t an idea and it can be hard to get going. So prevalent and legendary this that it has a name and legend all of its own. Defined as it is. Writer’s block.

The concept is extended across mediums and the artists indulged further. As long as you are writing something creative you are covered. Or are you?

What about worker’s block?

It is a question I have thought about a bit having long since sold my soul, abandoning previous artistic incarnations for wage slavery.

There can be days in the working environment where things are not forthcoming. No inspiration. No flow. Nothing.

Can I not even claim writer’s block when writing for work? Some of the project documentation and proposals I have produced are about as creative as anything I have ever otherwise excreted.

But of course in the professional environment there is no chance of pleading ‘blockage’.

It doesn’t wash.

The best out you can hope for is some solid procrastination, a limp excuse and to live to fight another day.

Still, we need to know. I know what I shall testify next time.

brothers in arms

One of the ironies of humanity is that for a species defined by our capability for communication, we are rubbish at it.

It must be said though, one half of the race is bringing down the average. The male of the species is exceptionally bad. Problems tend not to be communicated. This causes more problems.

Back in July, the Inspire Foundation ran the #manweek campaign to raise awareness of the high rate of suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency among young men in Australia.

A wide cross-section of people supported this and many shared their stories, experiences, thoughts and feelings through words. The results were amazing. Beautiful, poignant and truthful.

Reading the various submissions was humbling, a reminder of perspective and of people. The honesty apparent in each story was and is, an inspiration to me.

Gavin Heaton and Mark Pollard went the extra step, wanting to reach outside of an internet-centric environment with its occasional echo chamber tendencies. Calling for further contributions, they created a (self-published) book ‘The Perfect Gift for a Man‘. The proceeds go back to the Inspire Foundation. It is a fantastic effort and achievement for an important cause.

In an apathetic world, people who do something to try and make a difference should be applauded.

To everyone involved, I just want to say thank you.

You can buy the perfect gift for a man here. And you should.

Life can be hard. We all know someone who could do with talking about it.