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You know what's fun? Being away from your regular computer. I mean, c'mon! No access to your files? No distractions, right? And nothing is quite like losing your keyboard shortcuts and settings. It teaches you how to work with unknown tools! Also, I always hated dual screens. It's too much space, isn't it? I mean, why could you possibly want more than say.....800x600? RAM and processing power is all a fad anyways.

I'M LYING.

When I started this series, I was at my parents' house learning how to use my tablet. This means, instead of my beautiful wonderful desktop, I am stuck on this crappy one-screened, less powerful laptop. That's not a knock on laptops, per se. I personally prefer desktops to laptops, but if laptops twist your knobs then feel free. I just prefer my warm, cozy, normal desktop. If I could someone simulate my desktop exactly on my laptop I would totally do it. Anyways, I swear this has to do with the theme. But first let's talk about Time and Motivation!

Time and motivation aren't really related that much, but they can totally affect each other. Let me use an example from my life. Back during the winter break, I got my tablet and started learning it on this laptop. I had lots of time, because I was done my first semester, and I had motivation because I just got my new tablet. While not directly correlated, they do kinda work together! Unfortunately, as explained before, I had an arm and a leg tied behind my back with this silly laptop, so that kinda fizzled. But that's alright, that's okay! I'll get back to school, back to my proper computer, set everything up.....things will be hunky dory.

They were not hunky dory. School is not easy. I am in Computer Science, which basically means I have three assignments a week. Add Linear Algebra, and an over-zealous Film course, and you suddenly throw a fork in one of these aspects. That aspect, of course, is time. I had time, but not really enough to sink my teeth into my program, or my art pieces. There were at least 5 of the 7 days of the week in which I really had to work on some project or another (including CAC). So, that's fine. 2 days a week is not ideal, but it's definitely enough to get my feet wet and start producing some awesome stuff!

I didn't start producing some awesome stuff. I didn't produce anything. Why? No motivation. So that's gone as well. Of course, if you're making "blah" art and not having fun, you keep going because....well, okay everyone has their own reasons. Personally, I would keep going because it was something to do, and I was bored. Nothing to do? Let's make some silly sketches. And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'm sure that's how a lot of people learned to make fantastic art. It's how it works for me. Find something cool, get some basic results, mix in way too much free time, and WHAM. Magic. So why isn't it working this time? I have some time, and I could totally get motivated.

The reason is because I have too many hobbies (Wow, 6 paragraphs in and we're finally talking about the theme). It sounds kinda silly, doesn't it? Too many hobbies? That's like saying you're having too much fun, or that you have too many friends. But all of these things are completely legitimate. When you have "too much" of something, that's a bad thing. It's in the definition of the phrase. So too many hobbies is bad. It means that I don't have enough time to pursue and get in depth with any of them. Too many hobbies means that inevitably, one of them is going to be left out or diminished severely. Here's an example of such things in my life recently. It's an encounter I had with a friend, who I hope doesn't mind me talking about him. I'm sure he'll be fine.

If you're following me, you should be aware of a chap by the name of =flutterguy317. He's a co-host on CAC with me, a fellow admin of MLP-VectorClub, and above all else my very best friend. He came up to me a few months ago with a bit of a dilemma. He saw all these awesome things the fandom was doing, and wanted to try out a bunch of things! Music, PMVs, YouTube, custom art, vectors, coding Ponyscape, doing CAC, hanging out with friends.....it was all too much. He couldn't keep up with everything, and actually started getting a bit depressed. When he came to me, I told him to just do what he wanted to do. I told him that sometimes in life you have to choose between things like hobbies, because it's impossible to split yourself 5 or more ways. It's just too hard on yourself, and you end up worse than you started. It's an issue I think everyone eventually has to deal with, and a lesson I want everyone to learn. Sometimes you have to limit the way you split yourself. Sometimes you have to choose one thing over another. It doesn't mean you aren't interested in the thing you drop, but it just means you think you'll be better off with the one you stick with. Look at =flutterguy317 now! Doing amazing work coding Ponyscape, and having a fantastic time with us each week on CAC. Sure, he may not be making music, or videos....but he's a much happier person just admitting to himself that he can't do everything. By putting his time and effort into a few things, he's accomplished so much more.

I find myself in this situation a lot. For some reason, the lessons I try to teach to others are always ones I haven't really learned for myself. I look at =flutterguy317 and am happy for him, but damn! How did he learn a lesson I'm still dealing with? Especially with a fool of a teacher like me!

My hobbies are huge right now. Hockey, CAC, Making/Playing video games......I think art is a breaking point for me. I think trying to do what I'm doing now, with not a lot of time, less motivation, and these already established hobbies? It's just too much! I'm a crazy person! I just didn't have someone to bonk me over the head and say that.

I don't know what the hell that means for me, or my art. But I think I'm okay with that. I think naturally, things ebb and flow, and you just have to kinda roll with that and see where the tide takes you. So that's what I'm gonna do. And if you've ever run into this problem, may I suggest you try the same thing.

-RP

P.S. I couldn't just leave you hanging, so here's a cute I made: [link]