A gentle close to the week

And 6 things that made life brighter and better / Issue 1,488

Oh, hi friends!

“Gentle” might not be the first word that comes to mind, regarding this week.

But we like to be counterintuitive, don’t we?

And maybe a gentle close would be useful, and welcome. 

I’ve thought a lot this week about growth — what it looks like to grow as a leader, a collaborator, a writer, a partner, a friend, and more — and how the other side of growth always feels like a relief.

Oh, we did that! 

But how in practice, or in the moment, growth is really hard!!!

Showing up in new ways is hard. Making new decisions, even harder. 

Holding that belief, that optimism, and that vision of what’s on the other side is what keeps me going, even through the hard bits. Also, this question helps:

What if it all works out?

You can still recognize and consider a reality where “it” doesn’t work out. You’re not an ostrich.

But don’t forget to ask yourself the question, and live with the possibility, that maybe the other side will better than you imagine.

What if it all works out?

That’s just one way to gently tiptoe into the weekend, and next week, and beyond.

6 Things That Made Life Brighter & Better This Week

• I teared up in the voting booth, not only because I loved my trick-or-treating pigeon sticker so much, but because it’s such a privilege. And incredibly satisfying.

• “Why failing is good for you,” love this from my pal Tim Herrera:

Now go forth, and write stories beyond your abilities, pitch places where you never thought you’d be published, and revel in rejection. If you’re stretching and failing, it means you’re on the right track.

• It reminded me of “What I Learned from 165 Creative Failures,” a piece I wrote for Medium in 2018. “Stop waiting for permission” is my favorite part — also fun to see how I’ve grown and changed over these years! If you want to find examples of growth, maybe you should reread some of your old work too? See who you were, and who you still are.

• Thanks to newsletter reader Diane’s rec, I was listening to Simon & Garfunkel’s Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme this week for a bit of peace.

• Great article in my neighborhood blog West Side Rag about local runner Barbara Mann running as a pacer in this week’s New York City Marathon:

“Part of your job is to make it look effortless, but I had a moment last year in the Bronx when I questioned whether I could do it. I fell back on my mantras: Run with control. Run with courage. Run with hope. Run with gratitude. It helps.”

And we can apply her mantras to everything, no?

Live with control.

Live with courage.

Live with hope.

Live with gratitude.

Gosh, a marathon is a really great metaphor for life. Someone should write a musical about that…

(Wait, I am!!)

So excited to cheer for runners this weekend, Marathon Day is truly the best day of the year.

• Finally, Twitter is a nightmare but this tiny warthog living at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is so 30 seconds. SO WORTH IT. I’ve never seen a creature so small. (Thanks Colin, wildlife curator husband, for bringing him into our lives.)

I’d love to know what made your week brighter and better — and what’s still to come!