What we need more of…

Just one thing

I asked myself, what we need more of at this time of year – especially for this last post before a few days of holiday pause. Also at this time in the world.

Pretty quickly compiled a list of what we (or at least I) do not need: more discount offers, requests to sign up for paid subscriptions, bad news in the press. Etc. We will get them anyway. We’ve survived the Black Friday advertising blizzard and now move into gift giving count-down. More blizzards to follow. 🙂

What one thing would I really want to receive right now in busy, even stressful, times?

Here, my answer:

A simple reminder about creating strength in ways we didn’t imagine.

For this, I introduce an artist who I turn to for warm-hearted inspiration in short moments on busy days. (I love visual storytelling and will over time share others.)

It’s a two-minute story by children’s book illustrator Jeremy Ray Ross in his newsletter Just One Thing. He tells us about Elliott and the Monster in the Woods. I found it motivating and believe you will, too.

…One crisp fall afternoon, Elliott wandered deeper into the woods than ever before. The trees rose tall and gray, their branches weaving together to steal away the last light of day…

And so with this, I wish you a lovely holiday and to take a deep breath feeling grateful and relevant. Knowing that you matter exactly as you are. I look forward reconnecting together fresh in the New Year.

A note to those of you with AGE & Grace from the start

This is the 25^th post. It means that I lived up to my commitment: if I start this project, I keep it up weekly. Build the foundation patiently. One post at a time. No excuses to miss the deadline. Requiring myself to make my best effort to create it at a high quality level. It feels good to have kept my promise to myself and to the previous team whose wonderful way of working together inspired a lot of it.

I also genuinely appreciate all of the input from you as readers. Knowing that you read, consider and comment – often brought up in conversations or short notes or shared suggestions for improvement –

has been both deeply moving (wow, someone really reads this! :)) and hugely helpful. THANK YOU.