“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” 🥳 ~Annie Dillard

12 lessons I've learned throughout the years... (#324)

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. 🫶🏾 I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the Jagged Little Pill musical. If you have the opportunity to see it (I believe it’s currently on tour), definitely check it out—such a great time.

Jagged Little Birthday!

Birthdays are an opportunity to reflect on how far you’ve come. So I started thinking through some things I’ve learned over the years, and here is what I came up with so far:

1. You never know where your next opportunity will come from. 

2. “Be kind and have courage” from the live-action Cinderella are excellent themes to live by. They have been incredibly helpful to me in my life and career. 

3. Find a way to move that you enjoy. Movement is so crucial to your physical and mental health. (For me, I’ve realized I don’t like exercise that feels like exercise, but I do love to dance). 

4. Similarly, find a way to be present. If meditation is not your jam, there might be other opportunities to be mindful with similar benefits. Jigsaw puzzles are a good one for me. 

5. Music at the right time can be healing. The same goes for food.

6. All money isn’t good money.

7. When you can, follow your curiosity. If there has always been something you’ve wanted to learn or try, do it. Who knows what doors that can open up? 

8. It’s ok to ask for help. It doesn’t mean you are weak. On the contrary, asking for help is a sign of strength. (I have to remind myself of this often!)

9. Make time for the things that bring you joy, even five or 15-minute sessions. 

10. Every step counts—even baby steps. 

11. There is so much “hustle culture” propaganda out here. That works for some folks. But, for the rest of us, slow and steady wins the race. 

12. By sharing your journey and your stories, you show others what’s possible. 

On to the picks!

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#loves 😍

• 📺. Watching: School Spirits. This Paramount+ show about a girl who becomes a ghost and has to investigate her own death has had my attention since the first few minutes of episode 1. I just saw the finale this week and am keeping all my body limbs crossed for another season.
  

• 🤖. Tool: MacGPT. At work, our CEO, Adam, shared this nifty tool with us, which helps folks have direct access to ChatGPT on their Mac computers. No need to open a browser. Very nifty. I want to find more ways to use it, and I keep reading that the beauty of ChatGPT is all about the prompts you feed it. On my list to review: this and this.

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#reads

35 Lessons from 35 Years of Newsletter Publishing

I love seeing lists like this from fellow newsletter creators; C.J.’s is no exception. A few lessons that grabbed my attention:

• “The best metric is replies.”

• “Subject lines don’t matter anywhere near as much as your From line. Trust is the only thing that improves your From line.”

• “Creators don’t want to admit they’re in the entertainment business, but they are. What makes you entertaining? What is entertaining to your audience? How can you make this all a little more fun for everyone?”

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#icymi

• 😍. Last issue’s top pick was: Top 50 productivity hacks

• 💬. Side Hustle Convos: Learn from others who have started successful businesses and are juggling it with their day jobs.

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#lifevibes

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#supporters ☕️

Thank you, Ayana, Krista, Jessica, Annetta, Constance, Tunde, Jen, Michelle, Emile, Bex, Kim, Angela G., Lauren B., Chelsea, Amy, Ricky, Kirsten, Vin, Julie, Nicole, Humza, Greg, Kristin, Kirstyn, Jess, Cheryl, Krysta, Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keryn, Terry, Vanessa, Meredith, Lauren, Meg, Maria J., Chivon, Kim, Luciano, Colie, Chasity, Laurie, Latienda, Collette, Anne, Kristen, Liz, Katherine, Monale, Betsy, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Kayla, Madison, Rae, Stephanie, Christine R., Christine M., Frances, Hannah, Chris, Brandy, Mea, Kristian, Maria K. Avery, Adam, Barbara, Shenee, Desiree, Lisa, Kandice, L’Oreal, and LaVerne for being #jesspicks supporters!! ❤️

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