Omer 17: Unknown in an Upturned World

As I have been thinking about how I want to use my research, skills, experience, ideas in the future, the balance between notoriety and fully blending into the crowd has become more prominent. Especially in New York, the various levels of fame and recognition are more acute. By remaining more anonymous, I am able to move at my own pace – sometimes advantageous, but other times in a way that more eyes on me would bring more accountability. And as the world turns more and more upside down, the more difficult I find creating and meeting real deadlines, or sometimes finding the motivation and stamina to complete the initial stages of research, translate my thoughts into writing, imagine the ending of what I have begun.

Among all the other ways in which recent life has challenged many people, this balance of being known, accountability, and redirecting my concentration has proved perhaps the most challenging. Research and writing require a clear mind, something which has included many obstacles for me the last few months. As I have debated how to create accountability for writing, the idea of being a known entity has taken up more room in my psyche.

As I continue to wade through the phases of clearing my mind, setting and meeting goals and deadlines, I hope the Omer will bring new reason to challenge myself and find the excitement anew in my questions, projects, research, and writing.