Hello!
Wishful Working has been on summer hiatus for the last few weeks, and to be completely honest, I didn’t think I would be back in your inbox today. As of 4:15pm on Thursday, July 16, my draft doc was still completely blank. I’ve stared at the blinking cursor for almost two hours this week, typing and deleting intros on various topics.
I considered just taking this week off and keeping the hiatus rolling, but the truth is that I miss you! So I’m just gonna share what’s been on my mind during my time away. People seemed to like this type of format the last time I did it, and I make the rules around here anyway 😉
Do I want more money or more time to do what I love?
I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately. The crux of the issue is that I feel I should be making more money. We’re a two-income household, and while we aren’t having any problems paying our bills, I sort of feel like I’m not pulling my weight. But I’m also in the midst of a pivot in my life and career: I want to spend less time working on client projects and more time building a creative practice and creative business.
So, should I take on more client work, which will bring in more money but leave less time for what I feel is my true passion? Or should I grit my teeth through the budget squeeze and dive deeper into the creative business? It’s a dilemma that feels stark and binary, but the answer probably needn’t be so black-and-white. I could do a bit more client work and still have time to make (and sell?) stickers, prints, and other stationery goodies. Alas.
I wonder what my future will look like
I turned 33 in June, and while I absolutely love being in my thirties, birthdays always make me a little introspective. My husband and I are constantly daydreaming about the future, including ideas that feel a bit… delusional? Is that a bad word? Dawson really wants to be a hot air balloon pilot and picture framer someday. I really want to be a full-time author and artist someday. We’ve talked about buying an RV and seeing all of North America (not currently in the budget, see above). We don’t really know if we’re going to have kids, but we can’t put off that decision forever (I turned 33 in June).
Sometimes, the daydreaming is really exciting and motivating. Lately, it has felt slightly miserable. I have to remind myself that I don’t have to have everything figured out right now and that small steps eventually add up.
I’m really grumpy about AI. But also hopeful.
I’m tired of talking about it and hearing about it. I’m tired of seeing it on event flyers and internet ads and graphic t-shirts. On my recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I could not escape from the AI-slop souvenir magnets, and I’m sure most tourist destinations are similar. I get a knot in my stomach when I think about these gigantic data centers and their very real impact on communities and the environment. It feels so dystopian.
But also. I get this sense that people are craving a human touch more than ever. I’m extremely bullish on human-generated art, design, and writing. Print media is popping off. People are being more themselves — more “unhinged” — because we’re realizing that our unique taste and voice and quirks are more important than ever.
“Every day is all there is.”
A friend shared this Joan Didion quote on Instagram the other day, and I cannot stop thinking about it. The context was something about using the “good silver” every day, but I don’t know if that’s particularly relatable anymore. I don’t own any silver, good or bad. Instead, I’m thinking about burning good candles and otherwise not delaying certain pleasures or experiences. I’m thinking about how to live every day in a way that honors my biggest dreams.
Because every day is all there is.
See you next week,
Kara
Out of Office
What I do when I’m not at my desk
Reading: My friend Rachel’s recent Snail Life mailing included book recs in the style of an early 2000s Scholastic book order catalog — be still, my millennial heart. I already wanted to read The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series, but Rachel’s rec got me to finally find Volume 1 on Libby (audio version). I loved it so much and will be starting Volume 2 immediately 🏃💨
Watching: We’re lucky to have an old-school drive-in cinema nearby, and we recently went to see Toy Story 5! I enjoyed it and laughed a lot. Now I want to rewatch the whole franchise.
Doing: I mailed the July edition of Snail Mail Summer on Tuesday! With one edition left, I’m starting to think about what to do next… I’m thinking about a little online shop, maybe. Or a book/zine, perhaps a Wishful Working Manifesto 👀
Kara Detwiller is a writer and creative based in small-town Saskatchewan. She specializes in long-form content writing for enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, and manufacturing clients. She is also working on her first novel, among other creative pursuits. To connect, reply to this email or find Kara on LinkedIn.
Why Wishful Working? I want to help people thrive in a world obsessed with work and productivity. Together, we’re expanding the definition of productivity, rediscovering life balance, and exploring the many kinds of work that make life possible.
