That’s my daily mantra, and yet here we are at 12:52a, sitting in a parking lot, waiting for the year to turn over as if it will really make a difference. I’ve been off social media for a month and a half, I think, excluding TikTok 😅.
I said I plan to return to Instagram January first, but I know if I do it will probably overstimulate me. Unfortunately, I have to make money, right? So I’ll start with unread messages, then maybe the next day notifications, then slowly engage with everything I’ve missed from the creators I admire. I hope they’ve been active so I have something to look forward to.
This year has been a year. Honestly, the years have been years lately, but we’re not going to get into that. If you know me, which you probably don’t, you’d know how much I despise being online. I prefer real life. I fear we’ve become NPCs, non-playable characters, and I fear people don’t see it.
I document these things because even I’m in disbelief, and I need something to look back on. Something to reference, to remember, to confirm. Documentation is so important to me. It’s how we actually become, in my opinion. How else would one be remembered? How else do you leave a legacy, crumbs that continue to fall into the cracks of the world long after you’re no longer here, until they eventually deteriorate?
That’s more than a lifetime. That could be forever. To think my book is worldwide, even if that means only one copy on each continent, is still a fact and something I’m proud of. My most recent book, as of last week, made it to Italy. My problem is that I really want to meet the people who purchased it. I want to interview them after they’ve used it for a while. What did they like? Did it help? What didn’t they like? What did they wish it had? I’ll start embedding notes within the books in the future.
In 2026, I hope creators see themselves and create as if the world were ending, as if the only way to save it was to finally make the things they’ve always wanted to make. Gun to your head, what’s the first thing you’re creating?
For me? Another Ordinary Person. I’ve been putting them out consistently, and although I haven’t counted in a while, I feel like I’ve passed my goal of creating 100 by the end of the year, or at least came very close. I have three blank canvases left and still hours on the clock, and it’s safe to say I’m proud of where I am.
Art has helped. Art has always helped me. It’s always been embedded in me and expanded as I grew. It grew so much that it became a career for over a decade and somehow continues to grow. I wish I could say I’m proud of that. I really wish I could. But I’m not. It’s been more of a curse than a gift, in my opinion.
People tend to see you glow and choose to hide in the shade. I’ll say that and save you a book. I’m sure there are several blog posts behind me that explain it better.
Alright, Brandon, land the plane.
2026 is here. Take a moment to reflect. Write down your goals and go after what you want. There will be changes, challenges, and chaos. You have to build discipline, belief in yourself, and the willingness to not give up. Because if you can just make it one more day, I assure you everything will be okay.
Hope this helps, and thanks.
-B
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