The willingness to critique rather than create is a sign of cowardice rather than courage. Show me someone willing to risk and I'll show you someone willing to grow.
Hello. Thank you for this article. Well written and lifted my spirits as I am in a cringe stage or as I like to call it- reinventing myself as 58! Challenging and joyful at the same time.
I believe in you so much Janet. This coming year is your year. Embracer the cringe, thrive in it. Prove to yourself and the world that you can become someone new and better. :)
Ash, that line—“But keep going, one day, they’ll claim they always believed in you”—hit hard. It’s so true for anyone who’s ever put themselves out there. People would claim they believed in you as if their doubts or mockery never happened. It’s surreal.
Meanwhile, you remember every single moment of their doubt vividly. But moments like those make the experience worthwhile, don’t they?
I'm so glad this one resonated with you Lewis. In a few years, all those old friends who laughed at your cute little internet page will be begging for your advice.
Thank you! This was very encouraging and inspiring to read. And something I'd kind of been thinking about for awhile. Having that bravery to just start and doing something 'badly'...or just being willing to 'practice' things and let others see your learning progress is hard. But it's also inspirational, cause then someone else may have the courage to start, whereas if they just saw the end result instead of the journey they may not think its possible.
You make such a good point Elisa. The creators I appreciate the most are those who are willing to share the not-so-pretty parts. It inspires all to start because the idea that everything should go as planned all the time gets shattered.
Superb Ash! Just loved it, E'one these days want to be cool, but they don't understand that cool doesn't lead them to the next step. Probably few things come with age!
I appreciate that man, lately, I've been noticing so many fully AI-generated comments, they're ironically more cringe than raw human comments. What you're building with Janis is mind-blowing, I was so impressed, inspired and motivated to see it live. Legend Jurij.
Amen to that! Until I worked at a resident camp the summer after my freshman year of college, I was uncomfortable with dancing in front of others. Sure, I was 18, and I was the youngest of the female counselors at a co-ed camp. But I had a job to do. We counselors all agreed to participate in the end-of-session dances, and the best way to engage the timid campers was to make utter fills of ourselves on the dance floor. By the end of the summer, I’d lost my fear and was grooving with the rest of the staff on the dance floor. Now, I dance nearly every day as part of my fitness and mental health regimen. And, I have a lot of fun doing it! Now, if I could gather the courage to post the songs I’ve created, this year…but it’s coming soon!
Oh wow... Love this story! It would make for such a good article or newsletter post. I can almost imagine it. Now I want to dance. Please post those songs, please do it. Don't betray your future self. life is too short. Do it. Do it.
Thank you, so much! I’ve struggled with self-confidence, especially over my appearance and skills. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the legal and technical stuff I need to do. I have so many stories that I don’t know which ones to pick. Do you have any suggestions on how to do this skillfully, maybe using Substack?
The willingness to critique rather than create is a sign of cowardice rather than courage. Show me someone willing to risk and I'll show you someone willing to grow.
So damn beautifully said. Is your name Art? I love it.
Remaining cool rarely closes the gap because you never step out of your comfort zone, which means no growth. Nice one, Ash!
Let's make sure to close that gap in 2025!
Hello. Thank you for this article. Well written and lifted my spirits as I am in a cringe stage or as I like to call it- reinventing myself as 58! Challenging and joyful at the same time.
I believe in you so much Janet. This coming year is your year. Embracer the cringe, thrive in it. Prove to yourself and the world that you can become someone new and better. :)
Ash, that line—“But keep going, one day, they’ll claim they always believed in you”—hit hard. It’s so true for anyone who’s ever put themselves out there. People would claim they believed in you as if their doubts or mockery never happened. It’s surreal.
Meanwhile, you remember every single moment of their doubt vividly. But moments like those make the experience worthwhile, don’t they?
It is surreal Ronnil. Happened many times to me. I use their doubt as fuel. I love it. It pushes me to get better.
This might be my favourite visual you’ve ever shared Ash — genuinely.
We all feel it or have felt it in the past.
Putting yourself out there isn’t cool, but no one ever got successful without opening themselves up to criticism.
I'm so glad this one resonated with you Lewis. In a few years, all those old friends who laughed at your cute little internet page will be begging for your advice.
Thank you! This was very encouraging and inspiring to read. And something I'd kind of been thinking about for awhile. Having that bravery to just start and doing something 'badly'...or just being willing to 'practice' things and let others see your learning progress is hard. But it's also inspirational, cause then someone else may have the courage to start, whereas if they just saw the end result instead of the journey they may not think its possible.
You make such a good point Elisa. The creators I appreciate the most are those who are willing to share the not-so-pretty parts. It inspires all to start because the idea that everything should go as planned all the time gets shattered.
If you can't look back on your past work and not sense just a little cringe, have you even grown?
Putting yourself out there, when you know you're not perfect takes guts.
And it's so worth it, isn't it? Appreciate you, Mark!
It really is, thanks Ash!
What a beautiful reminder to be yourself and do things that matter to you as an individual :)
I'm so glad it spoke to you Rachna. We all need that little pause to reflect. ;)
Superb Ash! Just loved it, E'one these days want to be cool, but they don't understand that cool doesn't lead them to the next step. Probably few things come with age!
Appreciate your readership Sambhavi! Being too cool will make you freeze.
"cringe" is an excuse to be a coward
well done. great post.
edit: and GREAT reminder.
You're such a legend.
bookmark - great article - the begining of the post reminded me a talk from Derek Sivers titled "how to start a movement" or "first follower"
Thank you so much, Juan, your words humble me. And I love that article by Derek, it's fascinating.
Being cringe is a superpower in a modern world!
Indeed! Such a clever way to put it Wyndo.
Just leaving this comment without AI editing and similar to feel some cringe
I appreciate that man, lately, I've been noticing so many fully AI-generated comments, they're ironically more cringe than raw human comments. What you're building with Janis is mind-blowing, I was so impressed, inspired and motivated to see it live. Legend Jurij.
🫶
Amen to that! Until I worked at a resident camp the summer after my freshman year of college, I was uncomfortable with dancing in front of others. Sure, I was 18, and I was the youngest of the female counselors at a co-ed camp. But I had a job to do. We counselors all agreed to participate in the end-of-session dances, and the best way to engage the timid campers was to make utter fills of ourselves on the dance floor. By the end of the summer, I’d lost my fear and was grooving with the rest of the staff on the dance floor. Now, I dance nearly every day as part of my fitness and mental health regimen. And, I have a lot of fun doing it! Now, if I could gather the courage to post the songs I’ve created, this year…but it’s coming soon!
Oh wow... Love this story! It would make for such a good article or newsletter post. I can almost imagine it. Now I want to dance. Please post those songs, please do it. Don't betray your future self. life is too short. Do it. Do it.
Thank you, so much! I’ve struggled with self-confidence, especially over my appearance and skills. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the legal and technical stuff I need to do. I have so many stories that I don’t know which ones to pick. Do you have any suggestions on how to do this skillfully, maybe using Substack?