Shaun McLaren · @ShaunMcLaren
4th Apr 2018 from TwitLonger
StarCityGames and I have parted ways.... ahem, SCG let me go as an article writer....
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FIRE!!
FIRE!!
I WAS FIRED!!
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I have nothing but good things to say about my experiences with SCG and objectively these last four years of writing, making videos, playing high level Magic, and even streaming, have been nothing short of excellent. Sometimes you just don’t generate enough Clickaroos.
I was going to just leave a small statement to that effect and move on, but then I went back and read Brain Braun-Duin’s message when he was canned and he went on to win Worlds right after so let’s do that instead. PASSIONATE GUT SPILLING INCOMING! BRING ME THE HEARTSTRINGS STRETCHER!
These last couple years I haven’t had explosive results like my first ones as a Pro Magic Player, and it sucks when you’re in a slump.
If you put in hard work preparing, practicing, and building decks, and then end up with little to show for it can be painful. The last few years of competitive Magic it’s felt like I’ve put my heart and soul into building amazing decks, and even nearly won constructed master, but getting smacked down and kicked to the curb always suuuuuucks, especially when it happens multiple times in a row.
"Your fires burn low, my king."
I recently lost my girlfriend of over 7 years as well as my grandma, even though right now I see that these things happened over a year ago, it feels much closer in my heart and mind. I’ve been sluggish and I haven’t been pushing towards my full potential.
As someone who is naturally very shy, introverted, and private even just being on the edge of a tiny spotlight is strange and difficult. Get away from me stupid spotlight! Let me just squeeze back into my chrysalis and zip it shut! I don’t want to be a butterfly I want to be a caterpillar!
But I can feel it... coming in the air tonight… oh lord. I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life… oh lord. I feel something inside. Hunger... for a sandwich. Did I mention I’ve lost over 50 pounds the last year? Keto diet btw. Intermittent fasting btw. 250+ Squat btw. Healthy as *bleep* btw.
On the other hand I love the spotlight! I love entertaining and being a clown and making people laugh and learn and love and siiiiiiiiiing!!!! That’s the true me. I can’t go back to being a caterpillar. I must evolve into an Ultra Butterfly. With lasers and extra large cup holders.
The Ravenclaw inside me wants to explore new opportunities. To continue finding my deepest purpose and share to it.
The Slytherin inside wants me to tug at your heartstrings, tell a sob story, and blow this minor event out of proportion, spin my experiences into a book deal, and come back with ten times the fame, fortune, and babes I’ve ever had. (Mission accomplished?)
The Hufflepuff inside wants me to thank everyone who has supported me, thank you for reading, caring, and just being you.
The Gryffindor inside me wants to make a joke about “the Gryffindor inside me” as well as to keep on keeping on and tell you all to do the same. Having something superficially “bad” happen to you is often the best thing that can happen to you because you get a little poke that helps you get out of the mud.
Keep giving your gifts to the world as heroically as you possibly can. Lean past the edge of what you think is possible, don’t get bogged down doing what you don’t love, with who you don’t love, for people who don’t care. Don’t take the money. Keep climbing upwards, bit by bit, and persist through the downturns. When luck shuts the door, you gotta come in through the window. Don’t cry over spilled milk. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. I don’t think this is mayonnaise.
This is ALL just for fun anyways when you get right down to it. Life is a freeroll.
I hope you enjoyed my content and hope that I’m fortunate enough to create even more and better stuff moving forward!
This isn’t the epilogue, this is chapter one.
Peace out Sniiiiiiitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. tweeted below is a teaser for a project I’m working on.