Returnist Recs: 28
Unmistakable, Unbothered
Click the play button above if you prefer to listen to me read this piece.
This week, I’ve been hyperaware of how loud the “how” narrative has become - how to look, succeed, grow, do, live, be. Not just for creators or founders or people trying to make something public, but for everyone. There is an ambient pressure to perform correctly or efficiently, shaping ourselves into something easy to digest and evaluate. It’s hard to outrun the prevalence of metrics, frameworks, “best practices” (ew), and clunky comparisons that suggest there is a right way to show up or a quantifiable way to know if it’s working.
And yet, the work that keeps me interested lately - curious, admiring - innately rejects all of that. What it has instead is conviction, texture, an internal steadiness that reveals confidence because it’s unmistakably and unapologetically itself. If polish is present, it’s a bonus, not a goal. It’s raw and real and is so delightfully singular that it reminds you that yourself is something worthy.
There’s perhaps no greater example in my recent memory than the American Masters episode on Sun Ra, “Do The Impossible.” In it, we get to witness an artist so committed to his vision that dilution never seemed like an option. His work wasn’t calibrated for acceptance or clarity, it existed because it had to. Creating was the only thing that mattered day to day and year to year. Every element of the music and the performance surrounding it is (bafflingly) both meticulous and uninhibited. As I watched this quick dive into the life and work of Sun Ra, there was something deeply energizing about that level of absolute belief, and the impressive longevity of his legacy.
It brought me back to The Creative Act: A Way of Being, especially Rubin’s insistence that the work itself matters more than its reception. Whether you’re a fan of his work generally or not, it’s a book that offers a real time reminder: you don’t make work better by trying to please more people (as a recovering people pleaser, I’d argue the same goes in life). Rubin’s focus on the “Source” is largely inspiring, but more pragmatically, he asserts that creativity isn’t a response to an audience, but an offering shaped by attention, restraint, and care. Simply, you make better work by listening more closely to the creation itself. Sure, it’s a little woo woo if you don’t identify as a “Creative”, but yet again the purity in confidence stands out.
Then there’s Alison Roman, we all know I’m a fan. As I enjoyed a sunny Sunday afternoon, I plopped down on the couch to watch her latest video. It’s an Osso Buco recipe, and, in typical “Home Movies” fashion, it unfolds not in a studio kitchen but at home - baby on her hip, her husband both behind the camera and nervous about the baby being so close to searing meat. A close up of wine being poured with remnants of wax on the table, a sly candid of the chef herself relaxing at the table, the kind of dim light that says this is my sanctuary - not a video shoot. Life is very much happening alongside the cooking, nothing overly explained or sanded down. Of course, that’s part of why she has seen such tremendous success. Her food is delicious, yes, but the relatability is genuine, not performative. She shows up with the same sincerity she always has, but the setting and surroundings have evolved right along with her life. And the result? It’s content that feels alive and serves up a bangin’ dinner.
The internet seems to crave this right now: my time spent watching the Olympics is minimal at best, but watching people collectively fall for Alysa Liu as she won gold in figure skating is yet another example. Her story is exceptional not because she fit the mold, but because there is relief in witnessing someone refuse to contort themselves into expectation. Maybe that’s the antidote to pressure - a return to being unmistakably yourself. Not as a brand strategy or an act of rebellion, but as a personal commitment. The sun doesn’t try to shine correctly, it just does, and somehow that’s enough.
So, if you need a quick boost of inspiration as you head into the week, I recommend spending time with these exemplary individuals’ work. Not to learn how to do it “right,” but to remember how energizing it is when someone does it their way.
Flavor of the week: Weeknight short ribs braised in plenty of red wine with leeks and carrots. A simple, unctuous crowd-pleaser or dinner for two with plenty o’ leftovers.
Habit of the week: At long last, i’m avoiding my phone right before bed. No more scrolling until i’m “sleepy”. When it comes to bedtime, a peaceful fake-it-‘till-you-make-it is really the best course of action for me.
Soundtrack of the week: In this household, Sun Ra’s Nuclear War is quoted multiple times daily, if only for the “yeahhhh”s. You might say yowza, but frankly, it feels like a timely anthem.