An acquaintance I follow on Instagram (I got on, I got off again, I’ll be back in two weeks) shared this “In for 2023” post that had extreme cool-girl vibes. Cool-girl in a rides-public-transportation way, if you know what I mean. I liked it. I made my own. It was a fun reflection and writing exercise. I love writing goals, and really “intentions” because sometimes I like for my goals to not really be measurable. I just love getting all reflecty and dreamy. Sometimes the follow through is fun too.
IN FOR 2023:
Finding out things from friends instead of finding out things from social media
Investing in Index Funds
Swimming for exercise
Neighborhood walks
Having people over for dinner
Being Anglican // the gal in the friend group who is really into the Church calendar
Hydrangeas
Celebrating friends who have what I wish I had
Being obnoxious in the positive
Finding cookware I love
Giving the benefit of the doubt // appropriate differentiation
Freely giving away things I don’t love or use
Freely giving away things I love and use, but are worth sharing
Regular haircuts
Driving the speed limit except on I-70
Fake tanning
Lifting weights at the Y with my Y girls, and the high schoolers that just tool around there
What’s not on the list is flipping off my iPad every time I get a Teams notification for school, so I’m going to retire that habit. That’s the intention at least.
Anyway, I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too! Being home felt like being on vacation, at least in part because the ole boyfriend was there. I accidentally started a rumor that I’m engaged (I’m not) and simultaneously I used an old Google form asking to be set up with any eligible bachelors (I’m good, but thank you). So wanted to quickly stomp those two embers out. Here we are on a frozen lake in the midst of a high wind warning:
For a while I felt kind of cagey about social media PDA. I thought it might be fun for people to find out I had a boyfriend when I got married or something dramatic. But then, ya know, we took a cute picture, or did a cute thing, and it’s like, ok I’ll let the people wonder who this man is. And it’s just fun. I’m happy. It’s fun to have people know that I’m happy too.
I wrote this sentence that contains a link to my instagram. My Nuuly referral link. My Outdoor Voices link.
Number One: Tree Juice
Whenever my roommates and I were picking out a Christmas tree, I asked our fifth grade Boy Scout friend about which tree was going to shed the least. Between the three human girls and one Great Pyrenees at our house, there’s enough shedding. The Boy Scout, I swear, said, “droppage is actually the thing I’m the least expert in, but we sell tree juice inside that really helps.” I was so charmed I bought the tree juice.
It really works! Our Balsam is so full and healthy one month later. Totally manageable amount of droppage.
Number Two: Almost firecracker goldfish
My go-to bring-to-a-party snack is “Firecracker Cheez-It’s.” Basically you season Cheez-It’s with ranch powder and chili flakes, bake at 250 for 20 minutes and then make a lot of friends.
Yesterday as I was preparing for an afternoon of watching football, I glanced over at the giant carton of Goldfish on my counter and thought, “what if?” This time though, I subbed Creole Seasoning for chili flakes. 100% an upgrade. Still packed a ton of flavor without feeling like “this is going to mess me up later.”
Number Three: A cure for loneliness
Ok, the headline on this one is a little click-baity, but the skinny is this: people who volunteer feel less lonely and are generally healthier. Adds up if you ask me. This isn’t just a ploy to get those of you who go to my church to join the greeter team!
A five-year study of more than 800 people in Detroit found that helping others who don’t live with you can act as a buffer against the negative effects of stress. Although the study participants encountered stressful life events like illness, job loss or financial difficulties, those who spent time doing tasks for others — like errands, child care and housework — were less likely to die than those who had not helped others.
AARP Foundation Experience Corps, an intergenerational tutoring program, found numerous benefits to volunteering: More than 85 percent of volunteers felt that their lives had improved because of their involvement with the program and 98 percent reported that the program helped them stay physically and mentally active, said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP.
The cool thing about volunteering is that there’s an absolute world of opportunities, and you’re allowed to do things you like!
Volunteering with Girls on the Run has been such a value add to my life, I’d recommend it to anyone. Lead to Read is a hoot! Find a thing you like and then do it for someone else.
If you have a thing you love volunteering with, and think another reader might like too, drop it in the comments!
Number Four: The goal is to have fun
I say this at least once a year, but if you make having fun a goal for your trip, your day, your life, you will a) have fun and b) achieve something. It’s a total life hack.
Number Five: a Kacey Musgraves Happy and Sad at the Same Time Editorial note
In July, Five Things will be Five Years old. There has been a lot of tender goodness the last five years of my life. I love this thing so much.
Consider this my six months notice that Five Things will be ending this Summer.
The thing is, I’m going to keep writing. Probably in a public way. Probably in an email newsletter way. Probably in a weekly, dependable time way. Let’s be honest, I love giving unsolicited advice! I love this format! I might just keep going!
If my brain is a living room, Five Things is the fun and functional coffee table; grad school is the giant sectional that has a lot of purpose, not a lot aesthetic. Being done with school seems like it will feel like moving that sectional out. I’m going to enjoy the open space before I decide what’s next. But it’s looking like I’m going to get new coffee table to match.
Paid subscribers: I can’t put into words how much your financial support has meant to me over the last two years. You can absolutely stay on board. You can take this as your exit ramp. As always, this is a judgment free zone.
For what it’s worth, I’m planning to keep my job, keep my house, keep my friends, etc. The living room metaphor is my non-work creative brain space.
We’ll get more senti later. Just wanted to let you know. Mostly because I only had four things this week :)