Do we change
In the last couple of months, I committed to reading all the books by the most well-known Polish fantasy writer. The series called The Witcher, popularised worldwide by the games and Netflix TV show.
When I was young, for my friends and me, Witcher (Wiedźmin) books were the bible.
A must-read.
So it was interesting to re-read all of them, 25 years later, not only experiencing the stories again, but also noticing how much my perspective had changed.
It’s a strange feeling reading something that I vaguely remember, and while it is like discovering it anew, a second after reading a chapter or a passage, the memories come flooding back.
Like a key that unlocks these pictures from the past.
When we read these stories as young teens, we argued about them, debated the plots and identified with the characters. Especially the most controversial aspect, the ending of the Wiedźmin saga, which most young fans hate.
Not to spoil anything, but it’s far from the happy and epic endings that fans of fantasy come to expect.
It’s sad, brutal, and so simple.
As I read these last couple of chapters, as a nearly 40-year-old, it affected me in a strange way.
I felt sadness and went to sleep with a heavy heart.
But not just because it ended again, but this time I understood why it ended like this.
That even though it is still a fantasy setting, the power of these stories was in the banality of evil, the unstoppable passage of time, and that there are no real heroes and villains.
Only now I see how real it was.
WORK
YouTube
As I released the latest video, I started to think about the future of the channel. In any project, there is always a thin line between sunk cost and persistence.
How do you know when to stop?
Success, and measurement of it, is relative.
Is it views? Listens? Comments? Money?
It could be that these are the most obvious ones to focus on. But satisfaction and ‘fun’ are also important.
And when none of the above is working, it may be time to reconsider. In the next week or so, I will decide what to do about it and how to pivot.
A new video on my main channel.
BOOKS
Wiedzmin by Andrzej Sapkowski
Even though the sage is over, I still have two books left that I haven't read yet. I started with a Sezon Burz, which is a prequel to the saga. It’s nice to go from an emotionally charged story to something much simpler that reads like a quest.
LIVE
Deftones
I never listened to Deftones, but I knew Paulina did when you were young, so we went to see them in Cardiff last week. I went through the setlist a few times (as I always do) to familiarise myself, and I am happy to report it was a good evening. Sold out venue and solid performance.
Interestingly, there were a lot of young fans, which shows how these ‘legacy’ bands are pulling a new generation in.
Pole fitness
Paulina was performing (for the first time) at her pole fitness club showcase. It was their first event, opened to friends and family and was a great afternoon with the dancers presenting incredible athletic skills.
From dance flows, technical to let’s say, more R-rated stuff, everyone did an incredible job.
Performing live is very stressful, especially for people who don’t do it regularly, and it’s always amazing to see people who have the courage to do so.
MOVIES/TV
Drops of God
Currently on S2, which is still releasing weekly. It’s still a good watch, but the writing is a bit weaker than the first season (based on manga and anime). I think S2 is a completely new story, made for the Apple show. It’s not bad, it’s just that the main characters are very annoying this time around.
Platonic
I thought this show might be too cringeworthy, as I am not a fan of a particular style of American comedy, but I was wrong. Seth Rogen and Rosa Byrne are funny, the episodes are short and easy to watch, and it has a good-feel vibe. It’s a deserved evening watch.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you (hopefully!) next week!
Mike
https://mikemigas.com/
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