On Thursday, January 16, we lost David Lynch – a giant of film and art – and a personal hero. The post I had planned for today was about finding my creative voice, but I felt it could wait. for aweek
Instead, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on how much Lynch has influenced what my vision is becoming. His fearless storytelling, his ability to embrace ambiguity, and his unapologetic weirdness have all profoundly shaped how I see the world and approach my work.
“We live inside a dream”
– Phillip Jeffries, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
I’ve come to see the world like Lynch did — a surreal, weird, dreamlike thing. It doesn’t always make sense, and that’s okay. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to his films — they don’t need to make sense. Life doesn’t make sense either, and Lynch taught me it’s alright to lean into that. Sometimes things just happen, and you have to roll with it , or you’ll miss the beauty.
“Sometime My Arms Bend Back.”
– Laura Palmer, Twin Peaks
Lynch’s films have a way of reminding you that there’s always something going on beneath the surface, something hidden just out of sight. I’ve started to look at life like that, and it’s honestly a little unsettling. But also, it’s where the good stuff is—the mess, the weird, the parts we usually ignore. Whether it’s a story or a character, there’s always more to it than what’s on the outside, and that’s something I’ve started to really believe in my own work.
“The owls are not what they seem”
– The Giant, Twin Peaks
This one’s huge. Life is full of contradictions, and things often aren’t what they seem. In Lynch’s world, you don’t trust what’s in front of you; you question it. It’s taught me that sometimes, your first impression isn’t the real story. Whether it’s a film or a person, there’s always more under the surface if you look close enough.
“Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see. One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me.”
– The Man From Another Place, Twin Peaks
The world has dark corners – its underbelly – the stuff we pretend isn’t there. But it’s there. Lynch doesn’t shy away from showing us the ugliness, and I respect that. In a way, he’s taught me to look at the world with a darker lens—one that doesn’t sugarcoat things or try to make everything pretty. It’s not always fun, but it’s real.
“The mind is a wonderful thing, as long as you keep it open.”
– Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks
What really stands out to me about Lynch is how he never apologized for his vision. He stayed true to his ideas, no matter how offbeat or controversial. And that’s something I’m learning. I’ve spent too much time trying to fit into molds. Lynch just did his thing. And that’s something I’m trying to bring into my own filmmaking.
“An idea is like a seed. Once you have it, you’ve got to water it.”
– Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks
Lynch talked about how the best ideas come when you least expect them, when you’re not trying too hard to control everything. He let the ideas take him where they wanted to go, and that’s something I’m starting to do more.
I used to think I had to have every detail figured out before I could even start. But now I’m learning to just start, and let the story unfold. Maybe it won’t make sense right away, but that’s part of the fun. Lynch’s films have this weird, happy accident feel to them, and I think that’s what makes them so compelling. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
“I’m weird. I like weird.”
– Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks
At the end of the day, Lynch’s work is a reminder that it’s okay to be yourself. You don’t have to fit in, You don’t have to explain everything. Be messy. Be weird. Be uncomfortable. That’you don’t need to please anyone. Lynch never tried to and maybe that’s the biggest lesson he’s taught me—if you’re true to your own voice, that’s all that matters.
“You know, it’s a strange world.”
– Nadine Hurley, Twin Peaks
David Lynch taught me that things don’t have to be perfect, that it’s okay to lean into the weird and the uncertain, and that staying true to your voice is everything. If his work has ever spoken to you, take a minute to revisit it. Let it remind you that the strange, messy, beautiful parts of life are where the best stories come from.