5 Quick Things #221 đ
Living small, living analog, living focused, & cellos on Irish coasts (yes please)
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 Yearâs 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, Iâm revving back up into a semblance of normalcy. Iâm still contemplating what 2022 might hold for me â this past week I revisited my Rule, I scribbled out a few goals, and I adopted my word for the year. I know itâs basic and uninteresting to say, but I love the start of a new year! More on my 2022 word coming soon to subscribers â Iâd love to hear whatâs on your mind for the year as well.

5 Quick Things âď¸
1. đ New episode of A Drink With a Friend đ Weâre back! To start the new year, Seth & I are starting two rather audacious six-month challenges (hereâs mine, ICYMI) and youâre welcome to join in. In this episode, we unpack Sethâs plan to swear off all social media for six months. How will he fare? Would all our souls be more attuned to how weâre meant to live? Or is there a benefit weâd truly miss?
2. A lovely piece that further deepens my conviction to try living in my 100-mile radius: âTo 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.â
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 Iâm going to love it.
4. A good word from the good Bishop on our pathetically short attention spans: âPerhaps weâre turning a corner. Perhaps young people have tired of vituperative sound bites and superficial pseudo-intellectualism.â
5. And finally, you NEED this drop of beauty in your bucket to start the new year. Letâs all be the dog, shall we?
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening đ
A Nature Poem Every Night of the Year, edited by Jane McMorland Hunter
Look Whatâs Here! đ
Late yesterday afternoon a stack of boxes from our mail carrier piled on our front porch, and look what was inside:
Itâs always so thrilling to see a book youâve written in the flesh, and this one is a stunner. More thoughts soon, but in the meantime, Iâd be so terribly honored if you pre-ordered Bitter & Sweet in plenty of time for Ash Wednesday on March 2 â it tells booksellers to make sure they have plenty in stock when itâs released to the public:
Quotable đŹ
âWhat you risk reveals what you value.â
â Jeanette Winterson #
New Beginnings Call For a New Practice âď¸
I revisit my Rule of Life every start to a new year and around my birthday, and itâs 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, youâre creating space for you to consider your truest core values.
When you do this before making goals or whatnot, youâre making sure you say yes and no to the right things:
One Last Thing⌠đ
My smart friend Joshua Becker has a fantastic 12-week course that helps people declutter their homes. Itâs called Uncluttered, and itâs what I send people to anytime they tell me theyâre overwhelmed by their house. If living with less is something youâd like this year, head over and register. It closes in a few days and wonât open again until the fall, so nowâs the time to sign up:
Question For You to Ponder⌠đ¤
In what current endeavor of mine should I freely downgrade from âperfectâ to âgood enoughâ?
Have a great weekend,
Tsh
p.s. Me prepping my students for more 19th-century greatness this session.
"vituperative" ... man... that guy can use language.