Really great! Your comment that expressing your desire is vulnerable reminded me of how I also find that being positive feels vulnerable in a similar way. In social situations it's so much easier to get people to agree with you and to "fit in" if you complain about something, but I think that displays of positivity are similar to the kind of Chalamet unapologetic pursuit of greatness on a micro scale.
You know, I don't get how people don't have a thing. Every so often I'll be going about my life, and then I get reminded that someone doesn't have a thing. And I guess to some people it doesn't come naturally, but I've always had a thing, and when I didn't I was busy looking for one.
My thing is how I spend my time, it gives me goals, it gets me outside, it starts conversations, it brings meaning to my life, and as you said, it's something to take seriously.
I love having a thing I can go all in on, I don't know how people live without one.
I also think the thing doesn’t have to be as well defined as a hobby or product? But is more of a mindset toward the world - like faith could be a thing or the way you act on your principles
i am so inspired by your delicate word choice. i find myself slowing down when i read your writing not because it's hard to understand but because i want to take the meaning of each sentence and paragraph in.
Such an eloquent slice of an essay. The art of trying, of sweating the details…I’m curious if you have a take on the hand that ego plays in it all (good and bad!)
Ah the ego! It definitely does. I think it does haunt one when you put in a lot of effort and it doesn’t get the recognition you were hoping for. You’ll know that you’re actually after craft when that voice dies down
Oh, I GET you. I love this essay, both for the ideas it threads together and the care you put into weaving it all into one tapestry. I’m also learning to accept my “seriousness”, in work/writing/life generally, but am trying to temper this with a healthy pinch of not taking myself too seriously 🧂 I’m not quite sure what the distinction is (yet), but it’s something I’ve been noodling on.
I clicked on your profile cause I also go by NIX in my social life, and honestly reading this piece also reaffirmed my incapacity to be indifferent, I care about everything arguably too much and I have always seen myself as the most “chalant”person out there🤭 thank you for this
I’m a huge fan of Miyazaki as well and you captured the essence of his work to the T. I have been raving about the wondrous effects watching a studio Ghibli film has on me. And on the book appetites it’s always fascinating when you come across another writer who also discusses the warped relationship women have with food. Great take and great essay
Lovely - such strong ideas articulated with brevity
I’m curious, what do you think Chalamet would feel, to be revered in the same line as Eno and Miyazaki? How does this feed into his psyche and his ego? Should it? (I think there could be a spin-off piece centered around what seriousness looks like in a greater context of growth - praise, failure, milestones, etc.)
The way you connected the dots. To put Chalamet, Eno and Miyazaki on the same plane, quite a commendable effort. And how coherent the entire piece was. Brilliant! Looking forward to read more about Miyazaki. And thanks for the book reccos. Will return to read more. Keep going!
Really appreciate your kind comment! They didn’t seem to go together and then they sort of fell together naturally because I guess the core is the same
Absolutely loved this one! As someone who has been unbelievably passionate about what she loves, it's so nice to come across someone saying: That is the way to be. Many humans disagree; with the rise of AI and ease, dedication is rare. Thank you for sharing!
"I am constitutionally incapable of not caring" never have I related to anything more!! I've been thinking about Chalamet's speech the past few days too and I think you distilled the power behind it so beautifully. I can't tell you how many times I've been told "it's not that deep" by my more-nihilistic peers and I'm so glad there are people like you out there who also retort with a clear, resounding, "but what if it was?!" What else is there, but to create something beautiful and to leave our small mark on the world even if it all crumbles to pieces the next day. I think you'd also love this recent essay by Trang-Linh that touches on similar themes about passion from a more visceral angle: https://substack.com/home/post/p-156812685
God, this was stunning. The bit about someone’s soul shining lightly on the surface of their being — that hit like a tuning fork. I think we all carry some secret ache to live like that, where our devotion is visible in the grain of what we make. The whole essay felt like a love letter to craft, effort, and caring even when it’s embarrassing or exhausting. I’ve been wrestling lately with what it means to take myself seriously — not in a grandiose way, but in a quietly reverent, Miyazaki-drawing-frames-by-hand kind of way. This piece nudged me a little closer to owning that impulse instead of shrinking from it. Thank you for giving language to the yearning.
Really great! Your comment that expressing your desire is vulnerable reminded me of how I also find that being positive feels vulnerable in a similar way. In social situations it's so much easier to get people to agree with you and to "fit in" if you complain about something, but I think that displays of positivity are similar to the kind of Chalamet unapologetic pursuit of greatness on a micro scale.
Oh absolutely! To think lightly and beautifully of the world is a brave thing indeed
You know, I don't get how people don't have a thing. Every so often I'll be going about my life, and then I get reminded that someone doesn't have a thing. And I guess to some people it doesn't come naturally, but I've always had a thing, and when I didn't I was busy looking for one.
My thing is how I spend my time, it gives me goals, it gets me outside, it starts conversations, it brings meaning to my life, and as you said, it's something to take seriously.
I love having a thing I can go all in on, I don't know how people live without one.
I also think the thing doesn’t have to be as well defined as a hobby or product? But is more of a mindset toward the world - like faith could be a thing or the way you act on your principles
I agree. Your thing is whatever gets you up in the morning: job, product, hobby, religion, purpose, et cetera.
You yearn for something to drive your existencialism
Hell yeah, it ain't a crime to find purpose in life.
i am so inspired by your delicate word choice. i find myself slowing down when i read your writing not because it's hard to understand but because i want to take the meaning of each sentence and paragraph in.
this piece also reminded me of one of my favorites - "Are you serious?" by @visakavn (https://visakanv.substack.com/p/are-you-serious)
Thank you! Love that piece as well!
I feel the same way about Nix writing. Every word is carefully chosen to evoke something. Thought I was the only one who felt it 😊
Such an eloquent slice of an essay. The art of trying, of sweating the details…I’m curious if you have a take on the hand that ego plays in it all (good and bad!)
Ah the ego! It definitely does. I think it does haunt one when you put in a lot of effort and it doesn’t get the recognition you were hoping for. You’ll know that you’re actually after craft when that voice dies down
Oh, I GET you. I love this essay, both for the ideas it threads together and the care you put into weaving it all into one tapestry. I’m also learning to accept my “seriousness”, in work/writing/life generally, but am trying to temper this with a healthy pinch of not taking myself too seriously 🧂 I’m not quite sure what the distinction is (yet), but it’s something I’ve been noodling on.
Yesss funnily the alternative route for this post was “taking things seriously, but living lightly” - you are spot on
felt this to my core
I clicked on your profile cause I also go by NIX in my social life, and honestly reading this piece also reaffirmed my incapacity to be indifferent, I care about everything arguably too much and I have always seen myself as the most “chalant”person out there🤭 thank you for this
thank you -- nice to meet another nix ;)! Love that, think it's a strength.
I’m a huge fan of Miyazaki as well and you captured the essence of his work to the T. I have been raving about the wondrous effects watching a studio Ghibli film has on me. And on the book appetites it’s always fascinating when you come across another writer who also discusses the warped relationship women have with food. Great take and great essay
thank you!! I adore Studio Ghibli, effort translates into this ineffable magic that is hard to parse.
Amazing read
Lovely - such strong ideas articulated with brevity
I’m curious, what do you think Chalamet would feel, to be revered in the same line as Eno and Miyazaki? How does this feed into his psyche and his ego? Should it? (I think there could be a spin-off piece centered around what seriousness looks like in a greater context of growth - praise, failure, milestones, etc.)
HAHA that is a great question! I mean none of it is a value judgment but I think it’s not about accomplishment but more about mental state
The way you connected the dots. To put Chalamet, Eno and Miyazaki on the same plane, quite a commendable effort. And how coherent the entire piece was. Brilliant! Looking forward to read more about Miyazaki. And thanks for the book reccos. Will return to read more. Keep going!
Really appreciate your kind comment! They didn’t seem to go together and then they sort of fell together naturally because I guess the core is the same
Absolutely loved this one! As someone who has been unbelievably passionate about what she loves, it's so nice to come across someone saying: That is the way to be. Many humans disagree; with the rise of AI and ease, dedication is rare. Thank you for sharing!
Oh yes - one of my close friends always likes to say that it becomes even more rare and precious to discover the distinct human
Beautiful.
"I am constitutionally incapable of not caring" never have I related to anything more!! I've been thinking about Chalamet's speech the past few days too and I think you distilled the power behind it so beautifully. I can't tell you how many times I've been told "it's not that deep" by my more-nihilistic peers and I'm so glad there are people like you out there who also retort with a clear, resounding, "but what if it was?!" What else is there, but to create something beautiful and to leave our small mark on the world even if it all crumbles to pieces the next day. I think you'd also love this recent essay by Trang-Linh that touches on similar themes about passion from a more visceral angle: https://substack.com/home/post/p-156812685
“But what if it was?!” Is so perfect! Thank you, and can’t wait to check that piece out
God, this was stunning. The bit about someone’s soul shining lightly on the surface of their being — that hit like a tuning fork. I think we all carry some secret ache to live like that, where our devotion is visible in the grain of what we make. The whole essay felt like a love letter to craft, effort, and caring even when it’s embarrassing or exhausting. I’ve been wrestling lately with what it means to take myself seriously — not in a grandiose way, but in a quietly reverent, Miyazaki-drawing-frames-by-hand kind of way. This piece nudged me a little closer to owning that impulse instead of shrinking from it. Thank you for giving language to the yearning.
loved every word.