Welcome to the last day of a year, and for me, the first day of an age. In the mirrored hall of year-end reflections, I am left with twice the work, for it’s not just a collective year that is ending, but my own. Today is my birthday.
Sorry to hear about your pooch, but congrats on your pregnancy! Stay healthy & happy and #VibeHigh for the little tyke! Please let me know when you read Villa Incognito and what you think. Tom's close to my heart...5 of wands: competition is a guy's invention: glad to see you just say no AND to commit to trusting your intuition more. Logic and reason is stoopit. Also, lotta swords in that reading...Also, Happy Birthday!(?) Did I read that right?
Happy Birthday, Kelton. You are one of my joys in life. Thank you for always waking me up to new ways to look at life, live life, and appreciate that life is funny, sad, complicated, and, most of all, never the same. Happy 2024!
Thank you for this list—I’ve been in a bit of a funk and these seem like gentle steps to find sparks of light. I think I will try the Unravel exercises and I love the idea of filling a bowl with reminders of joy and delight in 2024.
Kelton this is beautiful, thank you. And thank you for everything you've shared this year. I'm always happy to see Shangrilogs pop up in my inbox.
I am going to do the Unravel prompt, but one thing I am resolved to do is actual start writing my Substack next year. It's going to be fairly silly, but I think we all need a bit of silly in our lives, particularly in these very hard years.
And lastly, happy birthday from one Cap to another (mine's next week).
For years, my only resolution was, "Do less." Stop trying to cram too many tasks into too little available time. Say no to things I didn't want to do and didn't have to do.
But a change I made in 2023 freed up more time than ever. I don't want to rush to instantly fill my time, but it's been fun thinking about what I had been putting off that I can now do. And how to do it creatively and inexpensively, since my tradeoff for more time is less money.
Instead of a spreadsheet with quantitative goals, I have a qualitative list. Every night when I plan my next day's to-do list, I start with my big list and go through it: Which things on the list need to be done tomorrow? Doctor's appointment, laundry, making vacation reservations, exercise, etc. Then, of the optional things on the list, which do I want to do? Looking at the list, I am constantly reminded that I want to write to distant friends, or visit a museum, or sign up for a class, or whatever, and it increases the chances that I will pick one of those optional things and say, "Tomorrow, yes, is finally the day for that."
I second your suggestion to make room for the joyful things!
I call delusions "cognitive dissonance," and there's no way to survive without them. How could we function if we absorbed, for example, the magnitude of the suffering in Gaza, or the inevitability of our own death, on a minute minute basis?
Two nearly identical aphorisms, on the hubris of planning: from some military guy, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy.' And from Mike Tyson, 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.'
Best of luck in 2024, and I hope it doesn't punch you in the mouth.
So, the process is what counts, information gathering, visualization, etc.
Thanks for that, I feel better. I recently lost all my notes for a big trip. Hours of input evaporated. But even if the specifics are lost, I certainly am better able to navigate based on just having had the input. It’s filed somewhere up there. 🧠
I had no idea that was a Mike Tyson quote! It’s on a personal injury lawyer billboard on the highway near me, and it always seemed a little hyperbolic! Makes more sense now.
Sorry to hear about your pooch, but congrats on your pregnancy! Stay healthy & happy and #VibeHigh for the little tyke! Please let me know when you read Villa Incognito and what you think. Tom's close to my heart...5 of wands: competition is a guy's invention: glad to see you just say no AND to commit to trusting your intuition more. Logic and reason is stoopit. Also, lotta swords in that reading...Also, Happy Birthday!(?) Did I read that right?
You did!
I am here to applaud Braiding Sweetgrass as a lens on parenting!!
Now I'm wondering (as the parent of mid-20-sonethings) what other guideposts I relied on.
Wishing you a sweet new year, Kelton.
You and my wife share the same birthday. Her day has been great and we are now going for a walk. The best to you, have a Happy New Year!
Happy birthday to her and happy new year to you both!
Happy Birthday, Kelton. You are one of my joys in life. Thank you for always waking me up to new ways to look at life, live life, and appreciate that life is funny, sad, complicated, and, most of all, never the same. Happy 2024!
This is so incredibly sweet. Thank you so much.
You are fresh air. Happy Brithday beautiful Kelton
Thank you sweet friend
Happy birthday Kelton! Thank you for the joy you’ve brought us this year.
So appreciate that. Thank you.
Thank you for this list—I’ve been in a bit of a funk and these seem like gentle steps to find sparks of light. I think I will try the Unravel exercises and I love the idea of filling a bowl with reminders of joy and delight in 2024.
And happy birthday!
Here’s to mutual funk breaking!
🧁🧁🧁
Kelton this is beautiful, thank you. And thank you for everything you've shared this year. I'm always happy to see Shangrilogs pop up in my inbox.
I am going to do the Unravel prompt, but one thing I am resolved to do is actual start writing my Substack next year. It's going to be fairly silly, but I think we all need a bit of silly in our lives, particularly in these very hard years.
And lastly, happy birthday from one Cap to another (mine's next week).
Happy early birthday and Godspeed with the Substack. It’s been the best.
Happy birthday and happy new year! 🌟🕯️
And to you!
Happy birthday!
Happiest of Birthdays!! Thanks for sharing a little of it with us!
🥰🥰🥰
Happy birthday!
For years, my only resolution was, "Do less." Stop trying to cram too many tasks into too little available time. Say no to things I didn't want to do and didn't have to do.
But a change I made in 2023 freed up more time than ever. I don't want to rush to instantly fill my time, but it's been fun thinking about what I had been putting off that I can now do. And how to do it creatively and inexpensively, since my tradeoff for more time is less money.
Instead of a spreadsheet with quantitative goals, I have a qualitative list. Every night when I plan my next day's to-do list, I start with my big list and go through it: Which things on the list need to be done tomorrow? Doctor's appointment, laundry, making vacation reservations, exercise, etc. Then, of the optional things on the list, which do I want to do? Looking at the list, I am constantly reminded that I want to write to distant friends, or visit a museum, or sign up for a class, or whatever, and it increases the chances that I will pick one of those optional things and say, "Tomorrow, yes, is finally the day for that."
I second your suggestion to make room for the joyful things!
I call delusions "cognitive dissonance," and there's no way to survive without them. How could we function if we absorbed, for example, the magnitude of the suffering in Gaza, or the inevitability of our own death, on a minute minute basis?
Happy Birthday Kelton!
Two nearly identical aphorisms, on the hubris of planning: from some military guy, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy.' And from Mike Tyson, 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.'
Best of luck in 2024, and I hope it doesn't punch you in the mouth.
Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke. Eisenhower's gloss was that planning is essential but plans are worthless.
Fascinating.
So, the process is what counts, information gathering, visualization, etc.
Thanks for that, I feel better. I recently lost all my notes for a big trip. Hours of input evaporated. But even if the specifics are lost, I certainly am better able to navigate based on just having had the input. It’s filed somewhere up there. 🧠
I had no idea that was a Mike Tyson quote! It’s on a personal injury lawyer billboard on the highway near me, and it always seemed a little hyperbolic! Makes more sense now.
Happy birthday! The first book of the Scholomance series was one of my favorite reads in 2023 - yay!