Weeks 7-8 Recap: Nobody Cares
An Important Lesson From My 9th Grade English Teacher
I’m not going to lie, Weeks 7 & 8 of this project brought on some RAGE. I spent hours and hours last December on my iPad researching and drawing. I’ve sunk more hours into carving these blocks. I’ve spent SO MUCH time videoing, photographing, captioning, and posting to social media. And 40 days into this project, I can’t help but believe my 9th grade English teacher was right: “Nobody cares!”
But that’s not exactly what I learned this week. Let’s review what I carved first:
Day 31: Calliandra Fairy Duster
Day 32: Barn Owl
Day 33: Palo Verde Tree
Day 34: Wooly Bear Caterpillar
Day 35: Desert Tortoise
Day 36: Pine Sawyer Beetle
Day 37: Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Day 38: Chipmunk
Day 39: Labrador Tea Plant
Day 40: Javelina
Okay, so back to Mr. Schurtz. Whenever my 9th grade English class would get into a heated debate, he loved to stop and make us repeat his favorite catchphrase: “Nobody cares.”
Why did this dumb phrase stick with me for nearly 2 decades now? Because it’s a no-nonsense reminder that when I get stuck, it’s often because I’m not getting the external validation that I really, really (really, REALLY) want.
And Mr. Schurtz’s ultimate point was this: you can’t expect other people to understand your ideas at the beginning. People might not care at first. They might never get it. Which is exactly why validation needs to come from inside.
You have to know your “why.” You have to understand how a project is serving you. You have to know if the work you’re doing is good, beautiful, valuable, or helping you to grow. And you have to give yourself validation on every step of the journey.
Here on day 40, I choose to keep going. Maybe very few people care about this 100-day project. But to me, it’s beautiful. It’s meaningful. It’s allowing me to try out new ideas, to hone my skills, and to spend time doing what I love every day. It’s filling my days with quiet calm. It’s a daily reminder that the time I’ve invested is paying off. It’s important! And it matters even if nobody cares.
Affirmations for Self-Validation
My work is valuable.
My creativity doesn't require an audience to have meaning.
Every step (and misstep) in my journey is a testament to my strength, passion, and resilience.
I trust this process and I trust it is leading me to necessary and beautiful growth.
I get to decide whether to keep going or move on. Either decision is valid and good.
I am committed to my vision, even in moments of doubt. My purpose is stronger than my fear.
I will celebrate my progress, no matter how small it may seem to others.
I hope these will encourage you to keep making you own work, knowing that it matters deeply. It is valuable and beautiful and needed - whether others are watching or not!
Week 8 on Social:
Everything crashed in weeks 7 & 8. My videos went from 2-3k views each to 200-300 views each. I don’t know why. It made me angry. And it reminded me that I don’t need validation to make beautiful work that matters. 🙃
Here are my 30-day numbers after Wk 8:
Instagram
Accts Reached: 16k (-12.2k)
Followers: 4107 (+58)
Accts Engaged: 639 (-307)
Insta Weekly Growth
One more affirmation for the road:
I am a beacon of creativity, navigating my journey with confidence and hope. My work is a reflection of my deepest self, and my passion is the fuel that propels me forward. I honor my truth, cultivate my talent, and treasure every step of this path. I stand tall in my creative power, knowing that my vulnerable courage to create is my greatest strength.
Yours in creative community,
Sarah K
TL;DR
Week 7 & 8 Highlights:
This week’s blocks were: a Calliandra Fairy Duster, a Barn Owl, a Palo Verde Tree, a Wooly Bear Caterpillar, a Desert Tortoise, a Pine Sawyer Beetle, an Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, a Chipmunk, a Labrador Tea Plant, & a Javelina
My 9th grade English teacher used to always remind us that “nobody cares.” And with Insta reach wayyyyy down, that’s how this week felt!
Validation must begin and end inside of us.
This 100-day project matters to me. I think it’s awesome and worthwhile even if nobody cares 😉
