TRYING SO HARD: ride ride again
I used to love roller coasters. The closest ones to me growing up were at Six Flags Great Adventure, and it felt like the ride technology advanced every season. One summer it was a rickety wooden loops with a lap belt that barely stayed down, the next I was strapped in STANDING UP, gliding along smooth steel rails. Backwards. At night, after a full day of coaster-ing, I would close my eyes and re-ride my favorites, still feeling them in my bones until I fell blissfully asleep.
Then suddenly, about a decade ago, I started to hate them. The sound of the track pulling the car up no longer thrilled me, it terrified me. The stomach drop feeling wasn’t fun, it made me want to crawl out of my body and mind. And when you threw in the 3-D component, I nearly threw up.
So I decided to retire, though I still went to theme parks. I’ve had several annual Universal Studios passes since living in Los Angeles, I go to Disneyland regularly, and this past December I was in Dollywood. But I stay far away from the coasters.
Until last week. I went to Disney World, and I felt like this occasion was so momentous — my first time vacationing with my brother’s entire family — that I couldn’t skip the rides. So I took some Dramamine, slapped on some Sea Bands, and gave myself a pep talk.
I’m so glad I reconsidered because I LOVE THRILL RIDES AGAIN. Maybe it was the drugs, maybe it was the new attitude to re-face my challenges. But the idea that I can revisit something I once loved and then hated — and come out of it with a new relationship to it — is super exciting.
What else can I revisit that I had written off this year?
Some recent news…
The official trailer for my short film Stage Kids is up! Film festivals begin in March - stay tuned…
There was an evening of staged readings from women writers, where a dream cast performed a scene from the TV pilot I’ve been writing, The Undergraduates. Writing is such a solitary experience, and the privilege of hearing what’s been in my head out loud was a special treat.
Last year’s special Valentine’s Day screening of Saving Face at American Cinematheque in Los Feliz went so well, they invited us to do it again. Maybe it will become an annual tradition? Tickets here.
Over at THE YELLOW PAGES…
This last month was a roller coaster of emotions, too. I wrote about the lows of the Lunar New Year shootings, but also had the high of a few incredible guests like Golden Globe nominee Dolly De Leon from Triangle of Sadness. Read more and subscribe here.
A reader question:
How do you stay persistent in face of adversity? I've been so impressed by your constant output over the years and I wonder how you do it.
Since 2009, I began “creating content” (ugh, I do not like the sound of that term, but I suppose that is what I do) and back then, almost every format I explored was still young. Blogging, social media, podcasts, YouTube — nothing was too saturated. As those platforms began to develop and I began to feel more lost, I made a conscious choice not to allow algorithms, monetary gain, or audience reaction be the driving factor in what I do. It hasn’t been an easy mindset to adapt, but it’s something I actively work on.
Because of that, I know why I create. It’s because I enjoy doing it. For the most part, I know what it feels like when I enjoy writing, recording, photographing, hosting, sharing, etc…
But it can sometimes feel like too much. This is why I’ve gone long periods where I’m not blogging, or posting videos, or writing stories. When I stop enjoying it, I take a break and re-examine the why.
As evidenced by the story at the top of this month’s newsletter, I am continually surprising myself at what terrifies and thrills me.
That’s it for this month! More stuff is updated regularly on the blog and social media @mslynnchen: IG, Twitter, FB, and YouTube.
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Yes, writing is solitary but you should be used to it as piano practice is very much a solitary, lonely life!!! And I have 2 questions:
1. is STAGE KIDS a documentary?
2. Did you find out what your dog is, besides adorable? I think it has some schnauzer in him. Possibly some fox terrier, given on the spots on his belly! THat's my guess!