Welcome to Words, Strings, and City Dreams!
Did the cover photo of this first post catch you off-guard? If so, perfect! I’m a firm believer that Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece captures my (goofy) personality and ambitions—traits I can’t wait to share with you here.
Luffy, along with Son Goku and countless modern anime protagonists, represents a philosophy that a lot of fans strive to emulate. This mindset encompasses passion, hope, courage, and the thirst to break into the next level. While I don’t binge anime as often as I did in my teens, those values still resonate and inspire my creative journey today.
And that’s what this blog, Words, Strings, and City Dreams, is all about—building something meaningful through storytelling, music, art, and more. I hope this space inspires you to embrace your own creative pursuits.
We can apply these principles in our short stories, our GarageBand mixes, our rough sketches, and more.
Channeling Your Inner Protagonist: Creative Lessons from Anime Heroes
I try to seek the hero and creative in everyone. My goal is to help them understand their drive for success.
At some point, you have envisioned yourself as the hero of your own story. Maybe your journey mirrors the beats of Save the Cat or The Hero’s Journey—filled with tension, setbacks, and climactic moments that shape who you are.
But here’s the question—does your story end exactly how you envisioned it at the start, or has the goal evolved along the way?
While you may not be striving for King of the Pirates like Luffy, your story is just as meaningful. You’ve set a dream—something worth striving for, something that demands tireless effort. And let’s state the obvious that needs no explanation: there are obstacles and roadblocks that set you back.
Yet, those obstacles? They aren’t the end of the story. They’re the turning points. The moments that challenge you to grow, adapt, and push toward your next level.
Growth is never painless. Our favorite heroes will always rise from the ashes in the face of peril. So will you do the same? What challenges are shaping your story right now?
“I’m Going To Become King Of The Pirates!”
2. Training Arcs Aren’t Just for Anime: Build a Mindset of Growth
In every great anime, the hero faces a training arc—moments of struggle and refinement that transform them into something greater. What if we treated our creative journeys the same way?
Let’s explore the anime protagonist mentality. At its core, it’s about growth. The song you’re composing today may evolve into something entirely different by tomorrow. It shifts and evolves—shaped by experience, setbacks, and persistence.
Just like a seed planted in uncertain soil, your art blooms as you nurture it—with care, patience, and resilience. That’s growth.
Maybe a critique partner suggests reworking a scene. Maybe a lyric misses the mark and derails your theme. Or maybe life throws something bigger your way—a lost job, a tragedy, a bad day.
It’s easy to fall into the spiral of defeat and not feel like getting up. But that’s not what we’re here to do.
As we continue our journeys together as creatives, let’s learn to take our failures and doubts and mold them into opportunities for transformative growth. Your story is waiting to bloom—let’s grow it together.
We’re all at the starting line for 2025. Will you finish it?
Dream Big. Create Boldly. Grow.
I hope this short introductory piece gives you a solid foundation for what we’ll be navigating in 2025. As we leave behind 2024, we can reflect on so many things that went great or went wrong.
You’ve seen a common theme in every Instagram or TikTok New Year’s Eve post as you’ve scrolled through your feed. There’s an urgency and excitement of renewal. The sentiment is a fantastic one, as every new racer gets a fresh start.
But can you commit to it? Can you stay disciplined? This is the challenge that doesn’t seem to be addressed throughout the year as the setbacks come and go.
Research shows that only 6% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions. That means more than 90% of runners drop out before crossing the finish line.
Unexpected tragedies, health issues, or circumstances beyond our control can derail even the best intentions. But before we let setbacks define us, we need to ask ourselves: Have I truly done everything within my control to pursue my goals?
This year, let’s push forward—past the obstacles and doubts—and grow together. Every hero needs allies to push through the hardships that life throws at us. Let’s build that space here.
Until next time! :)
V.A.L