Burnout.

 The month or two prior to my big bike ride I was a bit adrift, unsure what I wanted or needed to do with myself. I didn't feel creative, I didn't feel productive. Actually, I know I wasn't productive. I felt like I was spinning my wheels and kinda wasn't into any of it. I believe we call this burnout. I was burned out. All I really wanted to do was ride my bike and go to my class and beat the crap out of the heavy bag. I was just biding my time until the big ride hoping it would reset me.

The thing I've found about burnout is that no matter how many times you've felt burned out and bounced back, you never think you're going to bounce back THIS time. Or at least I don't. I always feel like I'm not coming back from whatever funk I'm in. I always feel like this is it, I'm out. Done.

But I never am done, I always come back around. I just never remember how I pull out of it so I have no strategies for making it happen.

This time around my idea was that I'd do this huge bike ride I was not prepared for, really push myself, and have hour after hour of time alone on my bike to try and figure something out. My hope was to come home completely spent having burned off every ounce of energy, malaise, and everything in between so I could start from scratch.

After a few days recovery and hanging out with Michelle and Ruby I was really excited to get back to work. I've been drawing and designing and writing every day. If I'm good at anything, it's those things. Seeing some positive results and getting two new shirts printed, one more drawing finished for a shirt in the near future, and a new idea fully formed has been a huge push in the right direction for me.

I'm posting a picture of the drawing I did for a new shirt. There is a fairly lengthy description that goes along with it, which I will write up later. Hope you like it! Feedback is always appreciated.