Issue 4: Who would you be if you let yourself do what you truly want to do without editing?

Wide Awake, Now What?

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Letter by the Editor

Dear Collective,

I’m a really big advocate for vision or mood boarding regularly. Having visual reminders of my goals helps me to shift into the type of character that I want to play. And when I say character, what I really mean is amplifying a specific part of my personality. The character that I’ve been wanting to embody lately is more direct, more alternative, more respected. She’s calm and focused and disciplined, and she gets what she wants.

But as I was building this character both in my vision board and in my mind, I found myself not wanting to box myself in, but wanting to be able to embody all expressions of myself. Who would I be if I let myself do what I truly want to do without editing? I would be at once mysterious and coquettish, disciplined and type-B, alternative and whimsical. I would be the full version of me everywhere I went. Because I would know, on a soul level, that it was safe to be vulnerable.

So I leave you with this, Collective. What character can you embody that makes you feel safe being vulnerable? In a world that is divisive and cruel, can you practice remaining open? Because, quite honestly, cynicism is boring and easy. It’s much harder to be an optimist, to see hope in a world that we have been told over and over and over again is hopeless.

Wide Awake, Now What?

Bethany

Make sure to read all the way to the bottom to submit your work to the next issue and vote on the weekly theme.

Current Obsessions

S.12 Alone: Alone is my favorite show because it demonstrates this week’s topic. With nowhere to hide, who would you be? I think this is something we all grapple with, and Alone confronts this global question with a type of raw honesty that isn’t seen on reality TV often, if at all. Plus, this season takes place in South Africa—what’s not to love?

Portable vacuum-sealed bags: As some of you know, I’m going backpacking in Vietnam, at the time of writing this, in eight days. And I kept seeing these portable vacuum-sealed bags on TikTok. I’m not an over-packer, but I do want to reduce the amount of bulk that I’m carrying as much as possible. This is the only time TikTok Shop has gotten me, and I have to say—worth it.

Submissions

Please note that there were no submissions from the collective this week.

Artist’s statement: Below are visual representations of the two personalities I was discussing in my letter this week. One more alternative and dark. The other is traditionally feminine and light. These are far from every aspect of my personality, but right now, they’re the most dominant.

Traditionally feminine — Traditionally Feminine

Closing

As you may have noticed, things are starting to change over here at The Wide Awake Collective. Stay tuned here and on TikTok (@bethanyrosemorris) for more information about the big pivots we’re taking. As always, thank you for being here. We’ll see you next time.

-Bethany