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The body is constantly talking to us and yet, we still have not learned to listen to it. Sometimes it is even worse for we do listen to it, but we choose to ignore it. Here is the story:

I told you already about a podcast I produce and host about Comic Art research. It is called Comments on the Top and it was supposed to have a single season, since it was part of a grant provided by an institution called IAMCR- International Association for Media and Communication Research.

Now, I had the brilliant (sarcasm alert) idea of doing a second season. Why not? , I thought. What could go wrong?, I insisted to myself, it will show your love for the group and its mentor, my dear friend and comic art research legend Prof. John A. Lent.

Of course, there was a whole plan in my head it it included producing the episodes in advance. I even invested some money in a “podcaster kit“, which reduced editing time a lot, so I really thought I had it all under control, except for a little detail: in the middle of all this planning, there was an element that I forgot to take into account: life.

The reason for the plot twist on my plans was actually quite a nice one. After the pandemic plus a terrible government in Brazil, 2023 brought finally good news for those involved in cultura productions: a series of funds to support culture opened their convocatories, whichmeans a lot of paper work to do. In practice, months of hard work that naturally caused my episode production plan to fall behind schedule.

Sure I could also mention en passant that some guests are slow to send the me their files and sometimes I lose valuable time writing reminders for the ‘deadline ignorers”, but none of these events change the fact that the blame for the delays in the release of the episodes lies solely with me. In the same way that the responsibility rests solely on me for not having known how to reestablish my schedule.

Instead, I tried another strategy: working to the point of exhaustion, including an epic workday last week, which ended four in the morning. I worked resless, despite neighborhood parties, no-stop-barking dogs etc.

Even so, the last episode was released two days late. A few hours after I uploaded the files to the streaming platforms I started to feel sick, with flu-like symptoms, mixed with a general malaise. In other words: burnout.

Fortunately, I am not talking here about a high degree of physical and mental exhaustion, which usually leads to the hospital and often leaves consequences, but rather a degree of exhaustion in which the body asks for a day or two off to recover, whether you like it or not.

At these moments, I always think about the signals my body sent before: tense shoulders, sore eyes, you know, the usual computer problems related to computer over expostion. Did I pay attention to them? No. Looking forlornly at my podcaster microphone covered by the plastic protector, I think that it will still take a few days for my voice to recover so that I can record a new episode.

Was it worth pushing the limits of my body so much? Certainly not. I find some confort though in the thought that there are already enough podcasts running and the world can probably wait a day or two for another episode.

I hope to have learned my lesson once and for all: as difficult as it may be, establishing limits is more than a personal choice. It is a universal right.

Be seeing you!

G.F.

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Pillow Talk (1959), dir. by Michael Gordon) is a romantic comedy released in 1959 and starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, who was an excellent jazz singer, by the way. The title in Portuguesse is quite different (“Confessions at Midnight”), bu tit still keeps the meaning of the the expression, which refers to confessions and secrets, the kind of talk that only happens privately.

It can also have another meaning, referring to the inevitable moment of facing our conscience (and the consequenced of this act). It is possible to hide many things from many people, for a long time, but it is much more difficult to hide things from yourself. At least for long.

My theory is that as years pass by, we tend to find ourselves more and more in situations where we got to, let us say, be real or, as an expression that I like very much goes: “no one escapes from the pillow”.

After telling you how I made peace with my sleep cycle and how I became the BFF with my bed, I thought I should end the trilogy with a little confession: I have never been able to find a pillow that I like.

They say that many of our most ingrained habits come from observing our parents during our childhood. In my case this is completely true at least in this aspect. Just like my mother, I prefer thin, practically imperceptible pillows.

What I did not tell you last week about my super chic bed is that in addition to new sheets, I also bought two pillows, that are now always dressed up like the best haute couture bedding. However, behind the ridiculously expensive pillows there is a small, timid pillow, but despite its obvious aesthetic disadvantage, it is my very favourite one or, better saying, the one that bothers me the least.

Is it too much to ask for a headrest that does not sink? And,p lease, do not try to fool me with”astronaut technology”, copper wires or a weird design talk. I want a pillow, not a space station.

There is an aspect to be highlighted here: when you really like the something, you will find a way to keep in contact with it. The same goes for the work of an artist, I guess. There are many really talented musicians doing their thing, despite of not having huge press coverage.

Their crowd might not be a “fandom”, but they are good, loyal old school fans, and they appreciate what you do. They connect to your music, and they feel part of your community, even if your community is not a loud one.

They will not shout on socials how much they love you, but they will “pillow talk” you, and this is the kind of talk that sticks to you to life.

Be seeing you!

G.F.

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Superwoman (Where were you, when I needed you) is a 1972 song by Stevie Wonder and one of my favourites from his vast repertoire. Musically complex and refined, the long history of loss and resentment speaks straight to the heart, as is often the case in the work of this genius musician.

The love story cut short because “Mary wants to be a Superwoman” and the pain-filled, resentful acceptance that follows also seemed like an interesting parallel to the plot twist of last week.

After weeks of hard work, everything seemed to go as planned: I had drawn up a long, detailed work plan for the month and stuck to it, much to my delight. Such a success had not been achieved without effort. I had not slept properly for days, my meal breaks were no real breaks and in the last 48 hours I had not even had time to comb my hair, which gave me the looks of an abominable tropical woman, but did I manage to follow my plan!

I was really feeling like a super woman (resting is for the weak!), when the harsh reality reminded me that even super women need to take care of themselves. I caught a cold, which while far from being a tragedy, can change your productive capacity overnight, not to mention the immediate effect on the voice and singing capacity (after all, singing is air, remember?).

In other words: to fulfill a previously established work plan, I put the final activity (singing) at risk. Seeing it that way, my over busy routine did not make much sense.

Regardless of your area of expertise, I am sure that you, like me, often feel in the middle of a race. Well, we are not. Do not know which practical use these words will have in your life. Probably none, but if you can make room in your heart for things that have no practical use, then maybe someday this statement will be of great value.

Being always busy, running from task to task will not make you live longer, or better. Maybe we should try to weigh more often whether the ends really justify the means. Sometimes the answer is yes, so go for it, and other times it is just not worth it.

Take my superwoman word on that.

Be seeing you!

G. F.