Welcome to V1LLAG3 Voice, the V13 Media Newsletter. Every Friday, you’ll get some of our best music, entertainment, culture, and literature pieces. C’est la V13.

Panic.

We’re always panicking. I’m not immune to it myself, I’m constantly panicking about things, always running around like a chicken with my head blown smoove off, repeatedly getting pulled into the urgency of whack-a-mole I’m playing with tasks, reminders, notifications, emails, emails, emails, chores, errands, routines, projects, and on and on and on and on.

No wonder we fell for the lure of AI.

Small wonder it is that we’re constantly tempted by the promise of having it all “taken care of,” the same way a mobster would. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to paint my house with the innards of life’s constant torrent of demands.

And yet the second you fall for this lie, you’re trapped in the roller coaster that this expectation gives you. Blink and you’ll miss the bar swinging over your head, until it crushes your legs. Hell, sometimes I wouldn’t notice until I was once again at the top of the dive, barely getting time to bear down for the fall.

When pseudo-gurus like Eckhart Tolle come around and peddle the same stuff we’ve known for millennia, some of us get really mad. Because why are they making millions for selling the same simple answer you could get off the title?

And yet, just like that Spongebob meme, how many times do we have to be taught this lesson? Over and over and over again.

In fact I’m only writing this now for you, dear reader, precisely because I couldn’t write about anything else, because I myself am panicking.

Panic. Anxiety, fear, dread. Whatever you wanna call it, go for it. It’s still the same symptom of a lifestyle increasingly out of whack because we’re all lying to ourselves.

No, being busy is actually not a sign of integrity. No, overcommitting yourself is not a good way to run things. No, carrying work home or into non-work time is not a sign of hustle. No, skipping sleep or exercise or decent meals is not a necessity sometimes. No, scrolling on your phone to fill up every possible minute of this life because it’s ending one second at a time and holy shit there’s so much to do and so much to see and how will I ever become as knowledgeable or smart or satisfied in life unless I am constantly striving to get a grip on as much as possible I have to know and hear and see as much as I possibly can please please please.

No. No no no.

Stop growing more arms you don’t have. Stop lying to yourself. Stop buying into the optimization.

Most importantly, just stop. Breathe, notice your shoulders are knotted and your tongue is jammed up against the roof of your mouth. Reset, and remember that the values we place on this world of constant information is a lie.

You are allowed to breathe. You are allowed to go slowly. You are allowed to live a suboptimal life. You are allowed to take a long ass time to do things if they normally take a long ass time to do them.

Let’s do this.

V13 Media Group hosts regular Weekly AMAs, answering questions in real time from anyone seeking industry guidance or insight. Join us on Wednesdays!

In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by Scott Holiday of Rival Sons to talk about his debut solo album ‘Topology,’ released under the name HOL1D4Y.

Wave to Earth’s Toronto show, with opener Jiwoo, hit the Great Canadian Toronto Theatre and saw an emotional connection between the band and their fans.

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