Hey, and happy first post of 2024 ☺ I was talking to Sierra the other night about how I’ve been feeling like I want to use this space a little more intentionally this year. But after digging a little deeper, I realized that it wasn’t as much about intention as about consistency. Sustainable consistency, as I put it, which kind of sounds like “hot warmth,” but it made sense in my iPhone notes. I like being able to write about whatever’s piquing my curiosity at the moment — hence the name of this blog (not a newsletter, I’d say), but I want to have posts here feel like a more integrated part of my life than they are right now. Rather than “Oh, I’m due for a post, I’ve gotta get something up,” I’d like to move toward the realm of having ideas/concepts simmer for a bit so that they can get worked on or refined over time. The Notes app, again, has been a pretty good breeding ground for this thus far, but if anyone out there has superior systems, do comment.
Half sentences over resolutions?
I had a false start on 2024, as I got quite sick right after the calendar pages ran out. Yes, this illness is very much part of my year, and I wouldn’t want it not to be—nothing like another reminder of how wonderful it is to be relatively healthy. But I’d like to grant myself at least a tiny feeling of freshness to feeling like something (anything) is starting anew.
So I’m almost at that point, and I’ve had some time to jot down a few muddled statements for 2024. Experiments in decaf. Shoot more (non-romantic) shots. Sourdough explorations. Curated musical environments. Have fun running. Among others! They seem like themes rather than resolutions, and I kind of like it. There are some more specific items—for example, the San Francisco Crosstown Trail, which was on my 2023 list but went unaccomplished due to unforeseen physical ailments. Generally, I have these somewhat vague statements that can take on many shapes and sizes, but that I know will bring me joy and/or fulfillment if I’m operating within that bucket. If this is to have any efficacy, I already have a feeling I’ll need to pin it up on the wall next to my bed. Where are you leaning in 2024?
Another fun annual or monthly method—tried and true by Sierra, and often met with questions from me because I’ve managed to have qualms with something that, oh wait, isn’t for me—is the simple In & Out list. What’s in, what’s getting celebrated and receiving more energy? What’s out, what is being minimized, cast off, or substituted? List items can range from one to many words. Among some of the In’s discussed were camping, pasta, and dancing (which overlapped with fellow item, day parties). People pleasing, out. Getting less than 8 hours of sleep? Sorry, out. Well, for Sierra at least (and me, I agree with these). I’d love to hear what’s on yours.
Media Sprinkles, Social and Otherwise
I’ve generally been trying to avoid the sites and use my time for other things, like calling for an immediate ceasefire (and thinking about the perils of justification). But I get sucked back in from time to time, and I’m glad when I can find a nugget of joy in my scrolling. When I can (hopefully) risk delight! I’ve gathered a few that I hope are worth sharing:
Neil Degrasse Tyson compares the Milky Way galaxy to a crepe. His passion for analogy always makes me smile, and it also helps me learn.
Most of the MadeMeSmile Reddit page. This is a steady drip of feel-good stuff that often brings a smile to my face without me consciously doing it.
This Twitter thread on our horrific approach to leaf management. It made me sad, not joyous, but the clarity with which this was pointed out made me feel seen in a big way.
This highlight reel featuring an array of clips from Tim Ferriss’ 2023 interviews, from feedback tips to coffee’s impact on sleep. I always listen to fewer of these full episodes than I should, so much gratitude to Tim’s team for clipping these up. I particularly enjoyed clip 12.
This piece on the 100 women (1 of whom was Sierra) who collectively set a speedy world record back in June, which I was able to witness in person. The trailblazing spirit and general badassness of these runners is something to behold!
This interesting read on regenerative farming and climate beliefs among farmers. Framing is so important in the way we communicate! Generally, some really great reads (and article titles) on the Ambrook site.
A couple of heartwarming anecdotes on cross-generational friends. This made me think about how much I generally assume that friends have to be at least close to my age, when that is in fact a completely arbitrary assumption! Upon closer inspection, I am happy to report a few cross-generational friendships, with an intention for more.
A very pleasant book list from The Marginalian. I’ve added The Transcendent Brain to my list, though I think Lightman should have picked something instead of “spiritual materialism” as that already means something quite different to lots of folks.
A super nice and refreshing guide to starting a meditation practice from Sasha Chapin, whose writing I admire very much.
Ok, we’re off! Happy habit-building, whether in January or June… if you choose to do so 〠
Happy New Year! Your 1st blog of 2024 is loaded with amazing suggestions, links and videos. Can’t wait to learn! Thank you so much! Bravo to Sierra! That’s amazing!
Great to see you here, Elias. In the spirit of sharing practices and ideas, I'm doing a 30 Day Writing Challenge offered by the person who led my silent retreat at Kripalu earlier this year. Every day she sends a prompt and I am attempting to use it to jumpstart my writing this year. We shall see. But if you check my substack you can see some of the prompts so far. Also another PU alum a little older than you and younger than me, Suleika Jaouad has her own daily prompts on her website called "Isolation Journals." Anyway, happy reading and writing.:) Take care and Stay WELL. (Also, do I count as inter-generational.. ugh!!! I'm sure I do!!! )