Ethar

5. Handwrite, If You Can

Philosophy and literature are messy. Tangled. You need space to draw arrows, scribble tangents, reframe questions. I still handwrite everything when I’m in the middle of a research spiral. It’s less linear. More like thinking. I know it’s not an option for everyone (I have nerve damage in my hand, so I can only write for... See more

the strange thing about the discomfort of learning is that it often feels lonelier than it is. we assume everyone else is already ahead, already fluent, already talented. but if you scratch beneath the surface, everyone is hiding a pile of drafts, failed attempts, notebooks filled with illegible scribbles. the discomfort is universal, but it feels... See more

one way to live with the discomfort is to reframe it as evidence. instead of telling yourself “i’m bad at this,” try “i’m inside the process.” the first thought breeds shame and avoidance. the second breeds patience. the language you use with yourself matters because it dictates whether you return to the desk, to the studio, to the practice space.... See more