I’m Over This
Article published on 03/27/2010
It’s Tuesday night and seven million Americans are watching LOST.
I’m not one of them.
I’m over it.
LOST fan(atic)s think I’m crazy. I’ve seen every single episode, so they say it is pointless to stop now, midway through the final season. But I’m over it. So I’m hanging out on the uncomfortable couch in my bedroom, reading the first essay in the latest Malcolm Gladwell collection.
Living the life.
I’m amazed at how common it is for people to neglect evaluating how their habits truly make them feel, and keep doing things they don’t like simply because they have a hard time letting things go.
My first “career” was as an artist. It was a full-time passion I (temporarily) put off college to pursue. Not everyone in my life agreed with this decision, but I was okay with that. I wasn’t interested in the status-quo. I wanted to follow my unique vision so I committed myself to pursuing my passions.
Then I outgrew those passions. I was over it. I wanted more.
Walking away from art was not an easy decision. I had dedicated a lot of time, money and energy into becoming an artist. It was an identity I had attached myself to completely. But when it stopped being exciting I knew I had to let go. I refused to allow my perception of myself as an artist, however strong it was at the time, to define me. So I walked away. I went back to school and started over.
Fast-forward a couple years.
In design school I built on my artistic experience, but also learned to apply problem-solving techniques to implement sellable strategies. I loved it. It didn’t take long before I began identifying myself as a slick, new-school creative professional. I did well in school and after graduation was quickly absorbed into the hip agency world as a Bauhaus-loving, skinny jeans-wearing, graphic designer.
What a great gig, right?
Absolutely! But I’m over it.
I’m not over being a creative and I’m not over agency life (not yet). But I’m over identifying myself as a designer. As soon as you identify yourself as something, you limit your potential. Instead of backing yourself into a corner with an identity or job title, use them as stepping stones toward higher goals.
What is currently in your life that you could live without? Probably a lot. It’s important to take an inventory of your life and determine what is valuable and what is not. If you realize that something isn’t valuable, don’t hold onto it out of habit. Walk away. It will be liberating and you’ll wonder what took so long.
Over your career? Walk away. There is no reason to settle for a job you don’t absolutely love. Your success at your job is directly tied to how much you enjoy doing it. If the career you really want doesn’t exist, make it up!
Over your stuff? Walk away. Look around you home. How many objects do you see that you truly enjoy, that you are either proud to own because of their uniqueness or are absolutely essential? Everything else can go!
Over your relationship? Walk away. This also applies to friendships. I have had to cut many people out of my life because they were a distraction from my goals. If someone does not add value to your life or support your ideal vision, get over it. Walk away.
For all I know, tonight’s episode of LOST is the best ever.
Maybe I am missing epic television.
I don’t care.
I don’t care about Jack or Kate or Ben. I’m not interesting in spending my life consuming television or drama or even fiction. I’m not interested in anything that isn’t real, useful and essential. If it doesn’t help me become remarkable and take over the world in some small way, I’m not interested.
I’m over it.
James McCrae is a creative strategist, culture addict and writer broadcasting from Minneapolis. 
