As of this exact moment, as I am writing these words, we’ve got 37,376 minutes to go until the beginning of a brand new year.
Thousands of life-minutes. Minutes you can
spend sleeping, snuggling, moving, writing, working, hugging, baking, laughing, reading, listening, sharing, making plans, making memories, making amends, making someone’s day a little better…
What will you do?
How will you choose to spend those
minutes?
You can do anything you want.
This year is not over yet.
Before the end of this year, you could…
— Send a letter to 5 people who have enhanced your life.
Here’s a free booklet with letter-writing
inspiration if you’re not sure what to say. Your letter doesn’t have to be super long. Even just a simple “thank you because…” or “I love you because…” can lift someone’s spirits for the entire day.
— Start and finish a creative writing project, just because it feels good.
Here are 7 beautiful, meaningful writing projects — letters, emails, lists, recipes, and more — that you can complete very quickly. (I promise.) Finishing anything, writing-related or otherwise, always feels so satisfying!
— Deactivate your social media accounts.
If you want to. You certainly don’t have to. But maybe social media is no longer helping
you to feel happy, purposeful, alive, or fulfilled. Maybe it’s taking up too much of your time. Maybe it feels like a distraction instead of a place for meaningful connection. Maybe it’s a little of both. Or maybe you’re not sure anymore.
Just as an experiment, you could take a “social media sabbatical” for a few days or weeks. Log off. Give yourself a temporary breather. Connect with
friends in other ways, instead. See how it feels. (It might feel really wonderful.)
Cut the paper into little slips with one question per slip. Put the slips in a bowl. Keep them on your kitchen table. When you’re lounging around, solo, or with your family, pull out a question at random and answer it. You might learn something fascinating about yourself — or someone else.
And remember that even in our frightening, violent, uncertain world, there are still lots and lots of reasons to be
happy and hopeful about humanity, the future… and everything.
Stay hopeful. Please don’t give up on yourself — or the world — just yet.
Anything could happen. Miracles could happen. To you. Around you. Or because of you.
After all, we’ve still got 37,376 minutes to
go.
-Alex
PPS. It's my birthday in 5 days — on December 10th — and I am creating a birthday party favor surprise thingie... for you! I am hoping it will be ready to be unveiled by my
birthday. We shall see. With enough coffee, anything is possible! :)
PPPS. Speaking of parties... I've spontaneously decided to throw a party in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, December 19, 2015. It's called: Letters & Brunch. As the name suggests, we're going to write letters... and eat brunch! Paper, envelopes, postage stamps and coffee will be available for free. Mimosas & brunch items (prepared by my handsome chef-boyfriend, Brandon) will be available for
purchase. The letter-writing love-fest starts at 9am. No reservations required. Just drop by if you're in the mood to write a few heartfelt letters, listen to music, and hang out with nice people in a cozy restaurant setting. More info is right here. (Hooray for ink & paper
& waffles & bacon!)
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