My YouTube Confession: Occupied / Moved

Recently, I sat down for coffee with fellow Hoosier filmmaker, Erik Thein, whose film The Amateur Circus I had just enjoyed at Indy Film Fest. The conversation naturally turned to the kinds of content we both enjoy. Somewhere in the middle of talking about shows, movies, YouTube, and the creative process in general, he said something I’ve been thinking about ever since:

“I’ve come to realize that some things just occupy me, while other things move me.”

He then admitted that he hardly watches YouTube or ongoing television series, which made me chuckle because even as someone who built my career on producing videos for the internet…

I almost never watch YouTube.

There. I said it.😅

Instead, my heart belongs to movies. 😍

There’s something about the completeness of a film - the way it tells a full story in one sitting - that moves me.

I’m not saying (and I don't think Erik was either) that being “moved” is objectively and absolutely superior to being “occupied.” People are different. Some genuinely thrive on open-ended stories, constant updates, or long-running formats. For some, there’s comfort in the ongoing-ness. And that’s valid.

But for me, I get enough incompletion in my life. See the previous Juxtapost about how my default creative mode is Experimenter, not Finisher. When I’m watching a story unfold on the screen, I crave completion. I like beginnings, middles, and ends. I like feeling the full arc of it unfold in a single sitting. That’s why I love movies.

In 90 or 120 minutes, I can watch a character transform - starting from hope or curiosity, falling into doubt or loss, and finding their way back to resolution. I get to feel that full emotional range. And when the credits roll, I walk away not only entertained, but moved.

There’s something powerful about being taken all the way through.

Often, there’s a true cathartic release.

When was the last time you had a true cathartic release?

This isn't just about media consumption. It’s about how we manage our time and energy in all areas of life. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of passive consumption - whether that’s endless scrolling on social media, binge-watching shows, or even just filling our schedules with tasks that feel urgent, but aren’t necessarily important. The result can be a kind of emotional numbness, where the things that truly move us become rare and, at times, harder to access.

I can easily feel occupied for a whole day.

But, making sure I actually moved? That takes a little discipline.

That’s why a key part of my morning routine is identifying my MITs - my Most Important Tasks. Not the most urgent or time-sensitive things, but the ones that feel most meaningful. I’ll share all about my full morning and evening routines in a future Juxtapost.

Of course, there are still moments when I let myself be occupied - by music, by a familiar show, by something purely entertaining. That kind of passive space has its place, too. Not every moment needs to be moving. But if I go too long without being moved - without seeing something all the way through, or without feeling like a story or a task or a conversation truly mattered - that’s when I start to feel off.

Because just like watching a good film, I want to walk away from the day knowing I felt something, learned something, completed something. And while life doesn’t always hand us neat little three-act structures, I think there’s real value in choosing experiences that help us feel the full arc. Even in small ways.

Maybe it’s as simple as:

• Carving out time for a project - or a step within a project - that has a defined end point.

• Making space for a conversation that leads to clarity instead of just more noise.

• Or choosing to watch something that will move you instead of just occupy you.

Whatever it is, I think we all benefit from choosing things that close the loop, that let us breathe, and that remind us what it feels like to be truly moved.

Next Steps:

🧠 Think about it - What’s something in your life right now occupies a lot of your time, but may not give you a strong sense of accomplishment in return?

💬 Talk about it - When was the last time you were truly moved - by a story, a project, or even a small moment of closure? Drop a comment below to share about it in the open or reply to one of my emails for some private accountability.

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