Feel Cringey and Do It Anyway

Write, craft, paint, sing, sew, cook, dance. Make the art.

Facing off in today’s Morning Pages, my fear of being seen.

As I settled into my morning routine, coffee in hand, dog at my side, basket of all my special things, including my totally, non-special journal (more on that later), I had the thought: maybe I should use a pen name. My name isn’t common; people who know me can make the connection. How embarrassing!

A pen name is safe. A pen name is anonymous.

Yes! With a pen name, nobody will see my writings. No one will find my name during a job interview and see my inner thoughts. My coworkers will never know. I’ll be protected from friends and foes, anyone who might point an evil eye in my direction.

My Morning Pages, in their infinite wisdom, are not having it.

FEEL CRINGEY AND DO IT ANYWAY.

Morning Pages are where my lesser feelings, fear, worry, judgement, meet their match. It is a direct confrontation of ego-driven, human weakness with the strength of inner knowing and guidance. I believe it’s a higher power a.k.a. God. You can call it what you like.

I’ve always liked that my name is unique; it’s like my personal trademark. No last name needed most of the time. It’s me: Jacy. I joke that I answer to Stacy, Tracy, Lacy, Jason, and adjacent (hence, the name of this Substack.)

I have a big personality, love me or hate me, and whether or not I like it, I was meant to be seen. Just as you are, and just as all dear souls are meant to be their unique and weird and wonderful selves.

If you’re reading this, know I still feel cringey, but I’m doing it anyway. I hope you do, too.

Let’s make our art. What’s something you want to do but won’t because it’s cringey?