Hello, and Happy 2022!

I hope you found ways to enjoy little moments in your holiday season, whether it was on the hectic side or rather chill. Ours was decidedly on the chill side, and I loved it so much it might be one of my favorite holidays in recent memory even though we did absolutely nothing interesting. As I mentioned, the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is my favorite of the year… I just love the pace of life we adopt. I truly enjoy having no idea which day of the week it is.

All seasons must pass, of course, so like you, I’m revving back up into a semblance of normalcy. I’m still contemplating what 2022 might hold for me — this past week I revisited my Rule, I scribbled out a few goals, and I adopted my word for the year. I know it’s basic and uninteresting to say, but I love the start of a new year! More on my 2022 word coming soon to subscribers — I’d love to hear what’s on your mind for the year as well.

5 Quick Things ☕️

1. 👉 New episode of A Drink With a Friend 👈 We’re back! To start the new year, Seth & I are starting two rather audacious six-month challenges (here’s mine, ICYMI) and you’re welcome to join in. In this episode, we unpack Seth’s plan to swear off all social media for six months. How will he fare? Would all our souls be more attuned to how we’re meant to live? Or is there a benefit we’d truly miss?

2. A lovely piece that further deepens my conviction to try living in my 100-mile radius: “To be human is to have a story. Building community and solidarity means understanding that our neighbours all have stories of their own. ...Places have stories too, and the stories of our neighbours are intertwined with these local histories.”

3. On the hidden beauty of routine maintenance, on the benefits of practicing habits in an ever-automated world. If an essay starts with an homage to the Benedictines, of course I’m going to love it.

4. A good word from the good Bishop on our pathetically short attention spans: “Perhaps we’re turning a corner. Perhaps young people have tired of vituperative sound bites and superficial pseudo-intellectualism.”

5. And finally, you NEED this drop of beauty in your bucket to start the new year. Let’s all be the dog, shall we?

Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📚

• A Nature Poem Every Night of the Year, edited by Jane McMorland Hunter

Look What’s Here! 🍋

Late yesterday afternoon a stack of boxes from our mail carrier piled on our front porch, and look what was inside:

It’s always so thrilling to see a book you’ve written in the flesh, and this one is a stunner. More thoughts soon, but in the meantime, I’d be so terribly honored if you pre-ordered Bitter & Sweet in plenty of time for Ash Wednesday on March 2 — it tells booksellers to make sure they have plenty in stock when it’s released to the public:

Pre-Order My Lent Book, Bitter & Sweet

Quotable 💬

“What you risk reveals what you value.”

— Jeanette Winterson #

New Beginnings Call For a New Practice ✍️

I revisit my Rule of Life every start to a new year and around my birthday, and it’s made all the difference. Start 2022 knowing what actually matters to you (vs. what you think should matter to you). By writing your unique-to-you Rule of Life, you’re creating space for you to consider your truest core values.

When you do this before making goals or whatnot, you’re making sure you say yes and no to the right things:

Create Your Rule of Life

One Last Thing… 🏠

My smart friend Joshua Becker has a fantastic 12-week course that helps people declutter their homes. It’s called Uncluttered, and it’s what I send people to anytime they tell me they’re overwhelmed by their house. If living with less is something you’d like this year, head over and register. It closes in a few days and won’t open again until the fall, so now’s the time to sign up:

Learn More About Uncluttered

Question For You to Ponder… 🤔

In what current endeavor of mine should I freely downgrade from “perfect” to “good enough”?

Have a great weekend,

Tsh

p.s. Me prepping my students for more 19th-century greatness this session.