5 Quick Things #358 ➕
owning your health, paring down your tech, breaking up with Amazon, & letting go of lies
Hey there,
I know don’t about you, but Lent is already coming in strong… I was sick for two days this week, right before it began and a bit after on Ash Wednesday. I haven’t been sick in forever, so it seemed like fitting timing to remember my own frailty and morality with the added bonus of a bout of whatever-it-is-that’s-going-around. I’m doing much better now, thankfully.
This weekend we’re coming in strong with more house renovations — Kyle will continue to drywall, put in windows, and do the general all-around awesomeness of all the things he does to serve our family so well. I’m going to start in on some decluttering projects, a la my Lenten fast (as I mentioned last week), as well as prep the backyard garden for spring planting. That’ll look a little different for me this year since I’m moving our raised beds to another part of the yard, but I’m still eager to dig in the dirt.
Here’s to spring almost here, here’s to Lent, and here’s to whatever God wants to say to us for this next season. 💪
5 Quick Things ☕️
1. Depending on your current situation (or perhaps your chosen Lenten fast?), you might find
’s practical guide on how to break up with Amazon a helpful read. I’ve done this in fits and spurts over the years, and I’ve never regretted it — bookmarking her guide to revisit when I need the reminder: “Last year, I started a running wishlist in my Notes app. Instead of buying something immediately, I added it to the list (including a link if needed) and revisited it later. Now, a year in, it’s fascinating to scroll through and see that 95% of the things I thought I wanted, I no longer care about. It’s been eye-opening to realize how many things I could have purchased but would have quickly lost interest in.”2. I’ve used the term “digital minimalism” for about five years now (thanks to Cal Newport) to describe either my current approach to tech or my desired approach to all things tech. Several years into making this intentional, and I’m happy to report there are things considered normal in today’s culture that I haven’t done in years (and will hopefully never do again). For example, I have a smartphone, but I have zero notifications (I can’t even imagine), the sound is always off, I have very, very few apps, and I frequently keep the device far away from me. I agree with this 101 primer on digital minimalism, and I’m grateful for the reminder to prioritize fixing your analog life first, because I have found this to be 100% true — in order to break a negative habit, we have to fill the void with something positive. As
says, “You do not have to live without this technology, but you can certainly choose to design your life life in such a way that, as Newport says, ‘you sometimes have a phone with you, and sometimes do not.’”3. Lately I’ve been wrestling with the reality that I too often think I need other people’s help to do things I already know, deep down, I can do on my own. Sometimes I genuinely need outside support, but if I’m honest, more often there’s part of me that believes flat-out false voices (where are they coming from, anyway?) that says it’s too risky to try doing things solo. This is mostly in my work life (writing and podcasting projects, future trip-leading ideas, and the like), but I’m pretty sure this could apply to other parts of my life too. …Just ruminating on this for now, and wondering where it’s coming from. Hmm. 🤔
4. Since this week I seem to be in the mood to share 101 primers on things, this is a good back-to-the-basics reminder from Dr. Ken Berry on small ways to take better control of your health and how you eat. He’s my current go-to professional source on all things carnivore; I appreciate his science-based yet ordinary-guy approach to this sort of stuff.
5. And finally, I really appreciated this response from Christopher West, one of my favorite living thinkers — it’s so grace-filled and reflective.
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📻
My Bitter & Sweet accompanying playlist (of course)
Quotable 💬
“Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.”
― N.T. Wright
You're forced to try one, but you can choose. Which one do you go with? 🤿
I used to think these things sounded fun… Back in my twenties I thought I’d sky-dive for my fortieth birthday. That came and went with absolutely ZERO interest in doing so. Now, most of these things sound like nightmares (especially the free-solo climbing — who are the four percent of you crazies? Haven’t you seen Free Solo? Didn’t your palms sweat for days afterward?).
Nonetheless, if I had to choose, I’d go with scuba diving, too. I tried it a couple times in Australia, and it wasn’t my favorite… but give me snorkeling any day. That, and sitting on a back porch with a stunning view somewhere in the world. That’s more my pace now.
Scuba diving: 53%
Sky-diving: 24.3%
Bungee jumping: 12%
Running with the bulls: 7%
Free-solo climbing: 4%
Find next week’s poll here.
It’s Not Too Late… 🍋
Yes, Lent offiically started this past Wednesday, but it’s not too late to start something if you haven’t yet. If you’d like a simple, open-and-go, mercifully short guide for the season, consider my book Bitter & Sweet:
SPECIAL PROMO! Wander down the Rhine River with us this summer… 🛶
As you know, I’d love you to join Kyle and myself on our boat this summer — be part of our pilgrimage down the Rhine River! And I’m thrilled to let you know that from today through March 21 at midnight, Select (our pilgrimage organization) is running a sale for $500 off per person with the code SPRING500.
If you’ve been on the fence about joining us, NOW is the best time to do so — they won’t run a promotion like this again! If cost has been a hesitation for you up to now (and I get it), perhaps this is a help and a little nudge from God that you, yes you, are meant to join us.
As we witness the wonders of the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, we’ll also use our time together on the boat to reflect on what it means to live liturgically, to create your own Benedictine Rule of Life, and other simple habit practices that can lead to a richer personal flourishing.
I’d love to get to know you — every year the just-right people join us, and it’s been remarkable to watch kindred spirits find each other. And again, use the code SPRING500 to get $500 off your registration, but only from now until March 21st. …You’re beyond welcome aboard:
Quick Links 🔗
Question(s) For You to Ponder… 🤔
What’s a small habit practice you can add this Lenten season — not to add more to your to-do list, but to help you better flourish?
Have a great weekend,
- Tsh
p.s. - The longer I teach adolescents, the more often this happens.
"Fix your analog life first"struck me right between the eyes. I used to know recipes and phone numbers and addresses by heart. (A recent phone issue gave me momentary panic that I'd lost the contact info of all my people.) I used to find new short cuts by getting lost while driving, plus I had to exercise my less than stellar navigation skills. I can't even tell you where the physical dictionary is in my house. My handwriting has gotten so bad I can barely read my own notes to myself. Looking closely at a bird or plant and holding on to those details until I can consult a guidebook helps me remember so much better than taking a picture and using an app. I'm going to continue this list. I've got work to do!