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Reading Time: ~4 minutes
Skimming Time: however long you linger
Happy Sunday, Reader
Joy isn’t found, it’s formed.
I jotted these five words on December 10th. The day I finally did (most) of my Christmas shopping. I dislike shopping (or spending money), but it wasn’t so bad on this particular day.
See, it’s been another dark, dreary December in south-central Alberta. While the weather’s been mild, with no snow on the ground, I wasn’t feeling very festive. I thought I needed the twinkle of lights reflected off snow to find joy in the dimly lit early evenings.
Turns out what I needed was a break from thinking about myself.
When I began browsing for Christmas gifts, I noticed a certain levity set in. I pictured the people I care about and thought, “What do they want & what would they enjoy?”
As my list (and cart) started filling up, I found myself smiling. I pictured my nephew happily playing with a new dinosaur toy. I imagined my mom finding the perfect place for the new holiday decoration.
Each image of joy I dreamt of added a piece of joy for me. It’s not the thing that matters. It’s the thought.
Joy is the gift you give or receive with thoughtful attention.
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Dreams of December:
🌞 Sunny Christmas — While the snow never came, I did appreciate the sunny, blue sky and dry roads. Sarah and I drove those dry roads to Tofield, AB, for pre-Xmas with my family before driving back down for two more delightful dinners with her family. We enjoyed a quiet December 25 to ourselves, walking through a peaceful, sun-filled downtown Calgary.
👓 Greg Isenberg — Last month, I teased a potential exciting opportunity. That opportunity came to fruition when I began working with Greg Isenberg at the beginning of December. It’s been a wonderful whirlwind that still seems surreal.
⌨️ Digital Writer — Signing on with Greg marked my first significant contract as a digital writer. To start 2023, I set out to invest in myself and take a real shot at earning money writing online. I accomplished my goal and paid back the investment with much more than money. I reinvented myself in more ways than I could’ve imagined. What a wild year it’s been.
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Three Lessons Learned in December
I. You’ll never get through the suck until you start.
The first step is always brutal. The first step is when reality crashes into your imagination. The reality of what is instead of what could be.
Nothing is ever as perfect as you imagine it.
Reality will always suck compared to your imagination. But when you start working through the suck, you can begin to let it go. And once you let go, you can finally get moving to where you need to go.
II. Momentum is a powerful force.
But you can’t force it.
Some days, it will come quickly and freely, and other days, it will feel like an uphill slog. Like you’re pulling a boulder up with you.
When you can accept the weight, you unlock the potential of momentum.
Whatever it is, it’s easier to keep going when you start early and stick with it. The power is in sticking with it. Slog or slide, the momentum will come.
You just have to keep pushing.
III. If the ideas aren’t coming, sitting still won’t help.
The process of writing this newsletter is usually the same. I start on my computer, dumping lessons and links into empty sections. Then I’ll edit the photos and fiddle around finding the right clip to GIF. Finally, it’s time to start writing.
For me, this is when the freeze comes.
I sit there, frozen still, staring at the screen. It happens every damn time. If I’m lucky, a quick break to pace around is enough to thaw me out. But more often, I have to get up, grab my phone, and start writing while I walk (or lay curled up in the fetal position).
Both work better for me than sitting and staring. I used both writing this very section.
Context note: I got walloped with the flu on the 29th, so writing through this freeze cycle was rough. My apologies if this edition lacks substance or I’ve made even less sense than I normally do 😉
I wrote most of this laying in bed feeling unwell, just trying to remind myself of the two fundamental lessons of 2023:
- Get started
- Keep going
That’s it. Bed-sick or sitting stuck, if you can begin again and not give up, you’ll get where you need to go.
Here’s to finding your way or forming your joy every step of the way in 2024!
Thanks for reading. I’ll see you on the other side.
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3 Interesting Things
- My 2023 In Review: Lessons To Make 2024 Your Best Year Yet by Greg Isenberg (Youtube)
- 6 Non-Obvious Startup Ideas For 2024 – Where It Happens podcast (Spotify)
- Saltburn (Movie on Prime Video)
I’ll leave you with a quote 🤔
— Derek Sivers
Until next time, remember to live and let go,
Scotty
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PS The computers knew all along
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