Today is the one-year anniversary of when I officially began, and became, the Electro Scribe. In honor of what this day means to me, this episode is going to be a little bit different. If I get a tad emotional, don’t hold it against me, and I appreciate you for letting me be real. I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for, and this piece will serve as an ode to my community, family, and friends who have supported me throughout my continuing evolution and transformation.
October 23, 2023, is a date that I will remember clearly for the rest of my life. It was the culmination of an emotional saga that beleaguered my family for three-and-a-half years. Let me clarify a bit for your benefit, there are a couple of items to uncover. It’s a celebration on one hand, and a memorial on the other. Truthfully, this enterprise began on a somber day for my family and I. Loss is part of life, and we’d finally lay the remains of my eldest brother, Abel Stephen, to rest. I think about him often. I want to make his memory proud, as he was an exceptional man who fought hard to the very end. I carry the memory of him with me wherever I go. Through this practice, our deceased ancestors and family members continue to live on.
While I sat drinking Australian whiskey with my remaining brother, sisters, mother, and father, we shared thoughts celebrating Abel. I crushed a hefty shot of whiskey, maybe even four as the legend goes, before deciding the time had come. I had been forming, brainstorming, and conceptualizing the idea of Electro Scribe for months, even years up until this point. I excused myself for about an hour this Tuesday, and officially began my existence as the Electro Scribe. What was I thinking at that moment? Fuck, man. Life is short. Let me entertain others for a bit with my stories and verbosity. I’ll encourage an appreciation of what we, as humanity, represent. Utilizing my skills in narration and voice over, kit-kat’s won’t even need to read. They’ll do their dishes, fold towels, and my voice will entertain them while they tackle chores and drink margaritas. I got you, boo. I want to inspire you. That’s my mission, love, to encourage you forth.
We all can admit, life is a bit maddening at times. Periods of darkness and despair flirt with happiness and optimism. Ying and yang. They’re a cute couple. Emotions of happiness often feel fleeting, time is temporal, and we work hard most of the week so that we may enjoy ourselves a little bit each night and play undeterred on weekends.
Though life seems at times melancholic, we have the ability to change our circumstances and surroundings. Mindset and mentality. Adjust as needed. You ain’t gotta be miserable. From the annals of anguish springs forth incomparable beauty when you let your mind free from self-imposed imprisonment.
Being grateful draws more blessings towards you. Is it a fantasy, to believe that life is good and should be lived with love? Absolutely not. If you can imagine it, you can manifest it. This is your dream, and I’m a dreamer too, so I want you to dream extra fucking big!!!
Everything has a purpose, supposedly. Cool, that makes me feel a lot better. I feel heavily, as I’m both empathetic and sympathetic. My thoughts and feelings fuel my creativity. I litter my emotions throughout these episodes. You’re intelligent enough to catch my hyperbole and metaphor, and I intend their flow to touch your ears so you feel like I do. Human. We’re alive, and let’s enjoy every bit of it. Am I mad for practicing this notion? Happily, yes.
We aren’t always ready for what comes our way, but by golly, we handle that shit when it arrives. Good or bad, one must move forward. To sit and linger without purpose is a dreadful curse I would not wish on anyone. When pain enters our hearts, it can’t leave soon enough. Pain is transformational. It may feel like it’s breaking us, which it is, but it’s necessary to the process of healing. Life has lessons to teach, and the packages it gives us are at times so ugly we’d rather not receive them. Yet, in the long run, we always rationalize their receipt. Time is all it takes, and it takes it time. Bear Bits!
One year ago, I decided to stop wasting time and throw myself into creating, intentionally. Professionally? Many would contend, yes. I know I feel like I do. The passing of my brilliant brother, Abel, reminded me of the preciousness of life. Abel was an incredible being. He brightened every room he walked into. A sharp intellect paired to a kind heart. A compassionate and charismatic soul. He was the epitome of purity. In honor of us both, I made the decision to pursue a dream I have had since the time of my youth. I always wanted to be a writer, somehow. As I grew up, I realized writing is not just limited to books and literature. Writing is literally in everything. You may not realize it, but written language permeates nearly every aspect of our daily lives.
If there is something you really want to do, stop putting it off until tomorrow. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, and the end of us can come at a moment’s notice. I know many of you are like myself in that, death has mingled in our lives more than we’d like to admit. We try to forget, because it can be painful to recollect what we’ve lost. Those we love and treasure being ripped from us when we still have so much we want to say to them and do.
Pursue your passion in your own beautiful way, and never give up. That’s what Electro Scribe is all about. I want to inspire and motivate my community. Whatever it is that you want to accomplish in life, use the time you have to bring it to fruition. It may not be easy starting out, but every instance that you invest in yourself increases the interest you will gain. Maybe you don’t think anyone cares, but as long as you do, you’ll eventually find your community. Culture yourself a routine and set of habits. These kinds of disciplines will carry you through the early stages, rough waters, and help you gain confidence in unfamiliar undertakings.
It’s my one-year anniversary of creating something I love and am so proud to share with others, but it’s so much more than that. I’m blessed to have connected with a myriad and plethora of souls this past year and throughout my entire life. To know that my words reach another person and put a smile on their face, tears in their eyes and streaming down their cheeks, is a scintillating feeling. God, I love the word scintillating. Scintillating means to be amusing, animated, brilliant, clever, or highly skilled. I think of the stars twinkling at night when I say it, especially when I look into another’s eyes. Scintillating eyes incomparable, like swimming pools of topaz beauty.
Take this piece for what it is, encouragement from me to you to live your life with love and beauty in whatever way you see fit. Find your community, bless them with your talents, and leave your mark on this world for all to see. My mission is to engage, entertain, and inspire, and I’ve passionately created my own niche to do as such. Thus, I thank you, dear friend, for being part of this journey. There’s a lot more coming from me, however those are stories I will save for another time. Though we know not what tomorrow harbors, the actions we take today shape futures still to come.
As autumn falls across the Midwest, winter looming in the distance, I want to remind you that death is not the end of life. Nor is darkness a personification of evil; I think of it as a representation of the unknown and an opportunity for exploration and growth. Remember, from one ending springs a new beginning. For me, losing someone that I loved dearly was the catalyst that sparked my action. I hope, for you, you’ll be able to start sooner than that. Share the beauty and bounty of your soul’s blessings with those you cherish, today. Embrace change for the better, and love yourself, always. Especially through the hard times. Be your own biggest fan, but just so you know, I’m rooting for you, boo. Let today be a day you continue building your best, and happiest self. Thank you for your love and support. This is Bear Swiftly, the Electro Scribe, signing off. Sayonara, all you samurai.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
