Ann Imig's Blog, page 2
October 11, 2018
10 Lessons From 10 Years Creating Online and off
In college I majored in the Pretend Arts, and aimed to pretend other people’s words, professionally. Directing, producing, and writing my own material scared the character shoes off of me.
Enter, life.
In my thirties parenting made me a daily director and producer. I took charge of the most unreliable cast ever known; one who constantly put props in their mouths, pooped in their costumes, fell asleep on the job, were notoriously unreliable taking direction, and had less than stageworthy diction fank you vewy much.
Then the internet made me a writer. Because perfectionists can’t simply enjoy a hobby, I immediately set my sights on a book deal even though I had zero publishing credits. I wrote compulsively. Thankfully, I also engaged with a whole community of mostly women writing online. That online community manifested into real life collaborations, opportunities, mentors, and friendships spanning years.
I created LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER in collaboration with hundreds of powerful women. We birthed a phenomenon. LTYM snagged a book deal and network TV opps, millions of social media impressions, thousands and thousands of dollars for nonprofit causes, and thousands and thousands of stories still being shared on stages and online.
Now solidly in my forties, I’m a freelance multi-hyphenate creative professional. I still perform, but haven’t pretended much of anything personal or professional in 20 years.
10 lessons from the past 10 years:
I’m a perfectionist and I had to learn how to deal with it. Opportunities and success fuel me, I’m highly-motivated and goal-driven. However, an overfocus on acheiving– and specifically basing my self-worth on outside accomplishments and praise from others– leveled me, literally (in the form of severe back pain). In order to heal, I had to set down my impatience for stardom LOL I mean results, and turn my focus inward and toward active daily practices. That shift in perspective away from ego and toward service–and becoming a devotee of process over product–changed everything. I speak about this regularly. Join me Monday if you’re local.
If you want to do something, create it yourself. Once in a while I get invited to speak or sought out for an opportunity, but 98.9 % of the work comes from me putting myself out there. The other 1.1% only happens because of that 98.9% I put out there, and the support I receive along the way.
Serving others keeps me balanced. Creativity and ego dirty dance, baby, and can lead right back to #1– perfectionism. When I tip into that abyss, shifting my focus to others airlifts me out again.
Let yourself out of the box. I let myself out of the I HAVE TO BE A FUNNY WRITER 1000% OF THE TIME box and LTYM was born. I allowed myself back on stage, hell I even allowed myself to sing on stage again. If a voice inside you keeps nagging at you, it probably wants OUT OF THE BOX.
New skills utilized faithfully = new resume, new career. I had strong writing skills before, now I get paid to write. Creating shows made me a legit producer. Managing a community and mentoring women taught me leadership. Running a business and events forced me to learn about branding, marketing, PR and a zillion other things. Ten years online taught me successful engagement with both audiences and brands, and turned me not only into a freelance creator, but also a consultant. Like I said, multi-hyphenate!
Keep going. You might never attain your most heartfelt dream, but you definitely won’t if you don’t show up and do the work.
Naming heartfelt dreams is so important and scares me. I prefer to get things done and then talk about them, rather than the other way around. Also, after dreams come true you wake-up very much yourself again with exhaustingly similar struggles (sometimes moreso). My heart says BOOK. But it also says BROADWAY and likely will until the day I die. Maybe what’s more important than BOOK and BROADWAY is writing and performing.
Writing helps me figure things out (see #7) and sharing my vunlerability invites other people to do the same. I love connecting authentically with open-minded open-hearted people.
People-pleasing makes the internet rough. Oh, likes. FFS.
People-pleasing makes leadership rough. Being good at being liked is an asset. It also gets in the way. You can manage it, but it takes a toll. Same with empathy and leadership.
Leave them wanting more. Ooops.
Thank you for showing up here and in real life audiences, friends. You’ve companioned me through raising my family, through reclaiming my professional life, and through learning to more deeply engage with people, communities, and stories very different from me, myself, and mine. I don’t know my next heartfelt dream, but everything I learned with you over the past decade will help get me there. Fank you vewy much.
The post 10 Lessons From 10 Years Creating Online and off appeared first on Ann's Rants.
October 8, 2018
THEN AND NOW #ThenAndNowKids and #CPTC
This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication; a new resource for every parent navigating the teen years
THEN
You bravely delivered your pacifiers to the pediatrician’s office “for the new babies” a little before you were ready. We spent hours on vacation patiently building an intricate toy space shuttle, only to realize we had to deconstruct it to get it home on the airplane. You and your brother used our king-sized bed for a trampoline, and I tried to make sure you didn’t fall on your heads.
NOW
You bravely navigate an enormous new high school, a little before I was ready. You spend hours patiently solving intricate geometry problems, only to realize I couldn’t deconstruct them with you if I tried. You and your brother use our king-sized bed for a wrestling mat, and I try to stay the heck out of there and let you worry about your own heads.
“Love is seeing someone as they deserve to be seen, rather than seeing them based upon behaviors they might be displaying.”
I keep thinking about this quote from the director of the Center for Parent and Teen communication, Dr. Ginsburg, and his approach to communication. I love the idea of parenting my boys with loving memories and visions of their innate potential, instead of focusing on negative behaviors.
Think of a recent conflict you had with a child in your life, and consider sharing it with me in the comments. How might that moment take on a new light through the lens of loving memories? (Hint: Try Dr. Ginsburg’s I know you can __________, because you have always ___________)
The post THEN AND NOW #ThenAndNowKids and #CPTC appeared first on Ann's Rants.
September 25, 2018
Fall Events: Join me!
I bet your fall calendar already feels tighter than my hamstrings (impossible), but how many of those appointments and obligations spark connection, creativity, intention, or FUN? I present, for your consideration:
MONDAY EVENING OCTOBER 15th
When you’re a perfectionist with a great idea, goal or project, it can often feel like you’re hitting red light after red light. Instead, switching attention to practice — for the sake of practice — can keep you moving forward, open up possibility, and even turn those red lights green. You’ll leave with new ideas and your own dedicated 30 day practice journal. FREE event, but grab your seat before they’re gone.
FRIDAY EVENING OCTOBER 19th
If you aren’t familiar with The Moth, it’s a premier storytelling podcast and national stage series. Tickets have gone on sale for Madison’s second GrandSlam competition; the championship event among the monthly Madison storyslam winners (including some incredible LTYM: Madison alumni). It is October 19th at the The Barrymore Theatre, and while I’m not taking the stage myself, I get to serve as one of the judges.
Esteban Touma is hosting. Haywood Simmons, Danika Laine, Linda Hedenblad, Charlie Kojis, Nestor Gomez, Ted Olds, Rosita González, Cody Lundquist, James Gordon, and Patti McNamee-Rosenberg will be telling the stories. Music by Yorel Lashley. Tickets here.
THURSDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 8TH:
Join me and other local writers for an evening of whiskey and words, as we step to the mic and present a poem, short story, or a spoken word piece. Doors open at 6 and the show will begin at 6:30.
Tickets are $20 and includes one free drink.
Proceeds raised from the event will go directly back to Madison Reading Project literacy programs for children. More here.
The post Fall Events: Join me! appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 30, 2018
Purple and Yellow Time
Of all four seasons, running jogging in summer takes last place for me. This summer’s humidity made jogging ambling even more brutal. I did it anyhow.
That said, I always look forward to Purple and Yellow Time on the running path, despite Purple and Yellow Time occuring in the heat of late August.
Sadly, I didn’t capture a photo of Peak Purple and Yellow Time, because I ran without my phone during that week or so. Happily, I got to run without my phone during that week or so.
Happier still, I need to run with my phone beginning next week because the kids start school. School equals fall equals cooler temperatures equals easier ambling moseying.
Today I took a photo of Past-Peak Purple and Yellow time to share with you.
Past Peak, and still pretty great.
The post Purple and Yellow Time appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 22, 2018
We used to have movie night now we have MOVIENITE
Who: You and your older brother.
What: Let’s All Stare at the Same Screen at the Same Time.
When: Tonight. Movienite. Let’s get it!
Where: The Elysian Fields of XBox Sweat, aka the basement sectional, aka the teen boy bassinet where you spend more hours than your actual bed.
Wear: Two-sizes too small Old Navy gym shorts, and no bath for three days. To unlock “ultimate comfort mode” kick off your shorts. Shorts are total trash, bro! Toss the cat around your neck like a pashmina.
Why: Three waking hours remain before we sleep, it’s 97 percent humidity outside, and your parents have given up. Yeet!
Bring: The bag of Twizzlers you smacked your brother in the face with, after he shoved them down his pants. Deeznuts! Make sure each Twizzler touches not only your hand, but also the blanket where your bare feet just were. Ration each Twizzler per player to power-up the “movie” ie six consecutive episodes of Parks and Rec. No one but Dad wants to watch yet another Wildest animal documentary, and no one but Mom wants to listen to her say everything about Say Anything.
Message from Host:
In preparation for this live first-person experience you must master the following:
LEVEL 1: Run from the dinner table after eating half a piece of this isn’t the good kind pizza. Fake two chomps on the crown of broccoli (Do not– DUDE. I REPEAT. DO. NOT. digest the crown of broccoli).
LEVEL 2: For maximum dinner kills, open and close the fridge, then hang from the open pantry doors yelling MOM DO YOU EVEN GO TO THE STORE.
LEVEL 3: Descend to the basement as your parents try to talk about their day, but keep getting interrupted by their total lack of energy. Your parents have no more lives. Your older brother is behind you NOOBSCRUB LOOK OUT HE’S RIGHT BEHIND YOU charging the basement to play the keyboard, while you shriek at him to SHUT UP WITH THE KEYBOARD, BOI.
LEVEL 4: Duck your mother’s rapid-fire NO ONE ASKED TO BE EXCUSED while scanning the perimeter, as your father plummets to the basement to open a precious easter egg; the opportunity to make beautiful music with his sons.
LEVEL 5: Just as Dad plugs in his amp, storm back up the stairs and barricade yourself in your bedroom. For maximum damage, slam your door three time yelling I SAID STOP PLAYING THAT TRASH KEYBOARD AND THEN DAD FREAKING JOINS IN WITH HIS CRINGEY GUITAR.
LEVEL 6: Survey the hallway, avoiding your mom’s toxic gaze as she eats her pizza and your dad’s pizza and then probably even your leftover pizza gizzards. Pizza tastes like control (and she has zero, Bro).
LEVEL 7: Wait for your mom to stomp/sigh/descend to the basement. She will crush the family jam. Nooooiiice!
LEVEL 8: You have now cleared the area and may safely dominate the basement. Sick!
LEVEL 9: Drape yourself with the cat–you called the cat! Kick your mom in the face (oops! my bad!) as you beat her to the couch corner spot. You have slayed dinner, survived family jam, won the cat pashmina and have the good seat. Victory Royale!
LEVEL 10: Don’t forget the Twizzlers. It’s gonna be lit, fam.
The post We used to have movie night now we have MOVIENITE appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 6, 2018
Kate’s Elver Park #30BrighterDays
I know Elver Park as the fast steep sledding hill I boycott due to the fact that everyone congregates at the bottom (instead of clearing the way for the oncoming wolf pack of sleds flying 60 mph).
I know Elver Park as the swamp where the under-12 team played soccer all of this past spring season.
I know the playground, the splash pad. I saw signs for skiing trails and something called Frisbee golf that surely no one actually plays.
Then my friend Kate told me about open spaces and views and miles of trails at the top and around that sledding hill, and the pond and country road around the back of the bike path.
Today I met Kate’s Elver Park. And saw more than a few frisbee golfers. Who knew??
There is so much more available than I realize– all around me, all the time.
Day by day, as my kids grow, my point of view get re-oriented ahead and above me again, instead of down the dredded sledding hill, around the monkey bars, over the slippery splash pad, and across the soccer field.
The post Kate’s Elver Park #30BrighterDays appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 5, 2018
Little bright spots for your week #30BrighterDays
This marks the final week of Oprah and Deepak’s free 21-day meditation, which I’m both utilizing and enjoying. I think you’ll still find value if you begin this week. I always find meditation valuable, and this focus on manifestation has me thinking about that which derives from ego versus manifestation that aligns with your heart and soul. Warning! Sit up!! Deepak’s butter voice puts me to sleep every time I fool myself into thinking I can meditate while reclining.
At long last I tried “Piñon” ice cream (pine nut) at La Michoacana. Everyone else’s spoon ended up in my bowl because omgyum.
My friend Holly shared a video of her 89 year old parents dancing in their living room for no reason other than Sunday. It’s not public for me to share, so instead here’s a video of a child ukele prodigy that made me smile almost as hard while striking me with total awe.
After a run of abandoning book after book, David Sedaris’ latest essay collection “Calypso” finally struck my sweet spot of both hilarious and contemplative.
Our family discovered the quirky smart and captivating Sherlock on Netflix, which seems to keep everyone happy for movie night. Along with Twizzlers.
Have a great week, everyone.
The post Little bright spots for your week #30BrighterDays appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 4, 2018
Clean from the root #30brighterdays
I forgot to take a before picture, so I won’t show you the after.
On one hand, I wish I could show you the progress. On the other hand, how very nice that social media has not hard-wired me to the extent I think to take the before.
We planted a new burning bush in the fall, and it survived the winter only to become nearly overtaken by weeds. Today I attacked them. Now our growing bush can breathe and expand, and I can look at the area without a homeowner shame-spiral.
Weeding equals control. Weeding equals resistance.
While we impatiently wait/work to uproot the true invasive species in our country right now, it’s a small bright spot to rip these clean from the root. Buh bye.
The post Clean from the root #30brighterdays appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 2, 2018
Anxiety Tapas, Anyone? #30BrighterDays
My poet friend Dana Maya volunteers at community events with the “Sponaneous Writing Booth.” You give the poets a one-word prompt, make a small donation to a good cause, and they write you a poem on the spot. Given the rare gift of an entire night to myself, I finally got to see the booth in action last night at a neighborhood festival.
With my husband working out of town and both kids camping, an evening “to myself” means I check the phone, then check again. The word “anxiety” already thrummed in my brain, even as I tried not to anticipate the spontaneous writing experience.
Last time I turned the phone off for an hour and put it away on purpose (Rebuke technology dependance! Free-range parent! Be mindful of now!) during one of these “to myself” times, one of my sons had a serious health emergency. No one could find me for that hour. This scary incident left him completely and totally fine in the end, and me with that god-forsaken phone as an appendage for life. Last week we had another non-serious (yet urgent) incident with my other son, during what should’ve been phones-off date time with my husband. I no longer question the parent/phone tether.
***
I met my dear Dana in a bag of diapers a decade ago. A little ‘zine arrived packaged neatly with my clean cloth diaper delivery (during that brief faulty soggy phase). Her poem in the ‘zine stuck with me. She named and described so perfectly the unique paradox mothers feel; we can never get close enough to our kids nor far enough away, all at the same time.
***
So, I put two dollars in the jar and burped out the word ANXIETY with a laugh, figuring this prompt stale and overdone a zillion times. Dana told me she’d never once written on it at the booth and she has volunteered for years. She told me most people choose words like JOY GRATITUDE MOON SUN BEAUTY etc.
We laughed about ANXIETY because she could feel it wasn’t the grand-buffet level of everything in the world seems cruel right now anxiety, and more the everyday everpresent small bites variety.
Dana wrote this poem in less than three minutes in one draft right in front of me, because Dana is an enchanting poet goddess.
She and I share these small plates of anxiety on the regular. They pair brilliantly with a glass of wine. Feel free to pull up a chair.
The post Anxiety Tapas, Anyone? #30BrighterDays appeared first on Ann's Rants.
August 1, 2018
Still Punky #30BrighterDays
I dressed up as a peri-menopausal version of Punky Brewster for a costume dinner. The addition of reading glasses and one orthopedic shoe made her “perimeno.”
But. see.
Everything I wore for that costume came from straight out of my closet, with the exception of the short-sleeved orange jacket I thrifted. Even that I might wear again though, and not ironically.
The unintentionally funniest thing about this 1980s punky child costume is that it mostly looks like regular clothes for 40-somethings in 2018. Maybe not work clothes, but certainly play clothes (where that differentiation still exists).
Possibly the second funniest thing about this costume is that one of my oldest and closest friend’s mom still dresses like this in her 70s.
Maybe we dress like punky children and don’t want to grow up. Maybe major media and consumerism turned all of us into Rainbow Brite without our awareness or consent. Or maybe just maybe wearing hearts and sunshine and rainbows during dark times feels a little revolutionary. Less I REALLY DON’T CARE DO U, and more Care Bears? Sign me up.
The post Still Punky #30BrighterDays appeared first on Ann's Rants.
