“If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.” 🌼 ~Nadine Stair

a reflecting on turning 43 (#368)

Tomorrow, I celebrate 43 years on this planet. As I think about my birthday wishes and generally how I want to spend my time, it makes me think of this poem:

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.
I’d relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd
have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly
and sanely hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over
again, I'd have more of them. In fact,
I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments.

One after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never go anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.

If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

By Nadine Stair (age 85)
from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul

I have so much more life to live, and while some things are incredibly challenging, while I am also a caregiver, I am finding ways to create pockets of time for myself.

More chances.

More mistakes.

More silliness (and more play!).

More ice cream.

More laughter.

More ease.

More sunshine.

More dancing.

More joy.

Here’s to 43 and finding ways to travel lighter. 🥂

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💬 Let’s Chat!

Use these prompts however you like. You can reply here or write about them in your journal. You can noodle on them as you go about your day. You can skip them entirely. It’s up to you. 😉

1. See #reads section below. Do you have a “granny hobby”?
   

2. If you could add one hour to your day, what would you do with it?

On to the picks!

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#loves 😍

• 👩🏾‍⚖️. Resource: Contract Club. I bought this resource a while ago to create my website’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages. And they are always adding new templates. Get the contract and legal templates your business needs for $30.
  

• 📺.. Watching: Girls5eva: This girl group show, originally on Peacock, features Sara Bareilles and Renee Elise Goldberry. It’s now on Netflix, and a re-watch may be needed to prepare for its newest season. The songs are ridiculous, but I love the messages around recapturing something that brought these women joy and reclaiming that for their 40s. But also balancing it with kids, relationships, jobs, etc.

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#reads

11 Ingenious Tips About Side-Hustling From Actual Side-Hustlers

I especially love this tip:

“Decide what role you want your side hustle to play in your life and then pursue with an insatiable desire. Is it a creative outlet? Is it a means to share something you are passionate about with the world? Is it a way to improve a skill you care about it? Is it way to advance in a field you care about?”

#jesspicks has been an incredible creative outlet and has helped me become a better writer and curator.

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Do you have a “Granny Hobby”?

Me! Mine are reading and puzzling. How about you? Do you have one?

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#icymi

• 😍. Last issue’s top pick: Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale.

“You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” 👣- Martin Luther King Jr.

• 🎤. ASK: My goal is to book 3 paid speaking gigs this year. If you know of one, I’d love an intro. I talk about side hustles, newsletters, and childhood hobbies as adults. Learn more about my speaking offerings here.

• 🔍. Curious about my process for producing this newsletter every week? This one-hour training will take you behind the scenes.
  

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#classifieds 🗞

• What if your ladder of success is leaning against the wrong wall? Have you devoted so much energy to your work that you’ve neglected other parts of your life? Here's a solution.
  

• Content Entrepreneur Expo is coming up in a few weeks. Use code JESSPICKS100 to get $100 off your ticket. Please shoot me a note if you are attending, too. I would love to chat in person!
  

• Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try TLDR’s daily newsletter. TLDR covers the most interesting tech, science, and coding news in just 5 minutes. Subscribe for free!

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#lifevibes

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