Can we talk about Beef?

Reality check + Beef + cool Monday inspiration

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David Matos - Unsplash

👋 Hello, dear reader. How are you doing today?

We all go through stuff; sometimes it floods and turns into ‘‘Beef’’.

I wanted this issue to be a short mental health check-in. I must confess things have been really tough mentally for me. Juggling, hustling, and realizing I was trying too hard. Unfortunately, my design business is not doing well, and I had to come to terms with that and let go of that identity. While I will always use design as a tool, it seems like designing for others is now a thing of the past for me. I'm not sure if, as a creative, you've ever reached a crossroads where your career and identity seem to die, and you have to redefine yourself.

I had seen it coming, I had lost the love and drive for it the moment I started pivoting into writing more, creating content and crafting my voice. I knew that designer etiquette was over. Now what do I do?

I write, draw, position myself as a strategist and see what comes out of it.

Sending breakthrough vibes 🌞

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Emotional awe: Beef

I had not taken the time to binge-watch in a while. I stumbled upon the poster of Beef and was intrigued (Yes! visual is the magnet). I do not regret the call.
Beef is borderline, second-generation effects and migration stories. It’s super interesting because it echoes many other cultures of second-generation kids. Anybody can relate to family struggles, career abuse, spotlight solitude and disappointment facades. With that pouring fear of passing all that packaging down.
Beef is a story of stretching, overload and reaching a point of explosion that can lead to obsession. That moment you get on your dark side, you enter a new realm and you just dont know how crazy you can become. One single moment of extra in your day and no meditation, no mindfulness hack is going to save you from that dark you.

We hide our darkest shades and life throws us a Beef to put it out.

The first season of this show was a masterpiece. The infusion of art as transitions was spot on, highlighting the hidden bizarrerie and primal weirdness we try to tame. We are constantly on the bridge of overload, but hopefully, we can use techniques to stay on the bright side.
The show was beautifully directed, with the cut scenes, the eagerness, the coincidences, and the action-reaction making it a full-speed ride. The creators succeeded in shedding light on friction and specifically the beauty of friction because it declutters and extracts truth.
’’Everything fades in the era of the facade and growing solitude''. How do we combat our incoherence? I believe this show is a psychological act and a celebration of the fact that "we all have baggage".

Special award to the iconic garage rock, post-punk, and soft rock genres I listened to, it reminds me of my youth*. To the creative team: thank you for such a masterpiece and reminder. 

*Incubus, Hoobastank, Paula Cole: just a dose of time travel

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Pépites music

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🤩 Cool links to click on

• What happens when creatives meet (creative camps: a week on your creative projects in a beautiful location surrounded by like-minded people)

• 10 podcasts for creative career advice (overshare is one of my favourites)

• Early works from creatives (four creatives share their childhood and teenage artworks)

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I hope you enjoyed this Monday's read. If yes, share it with peers, friends and family. Sharing is loving.

Yours creatively,
Keva.