The quiet, close to home life
Greetings fellow Conformists,
There are endless think pieces about how the world will and should change after this crisis comes under control; I shared my own thoughts of big picture solutions in my last email. But what do you want to change about your own life, the specifics of how you live day to day?
Our worlds have been compressed, physically squeezed down to our homes and neighborhoods, to places within walking distance and only the most essential shopping trips for food or medicine. All else beyond survival has been stripped away. What do you want to add back in?
If you were too busy, if you spent more than you wanted, if you found yourself always wanting the next big thing, treat this as an opportunity to reset and choose which things truly enrich your life. As much as others may say they can’t wait for things to go back to the way they were - as much as that may be possible - you can decide that you want to live differently than you did before.
What are you missing most? What are you missing less than you expected? What are you most scared of losing, of not making it through to the other side?
I find myself missing the pieces of a quiet life the most. Not far-flung vacations, but the day-to-day places that make up daily life. Chatting with friends at my favorite coffee shop. Stopping into the library for a book. Eating dinner out with my partner. Walking along the waterfront at sunset. Popping into the bakery for a treat. Picking out my own pint of fresh strawberries at the farmer’s market. These are the things that give my life flavor. I find myself complacent with the idea of not traveling for the next year, but thinking of all these everyday moments lost is what really hurts.
And central to all these pieces is the place where I live, and its small, independent businesses. The third place - another place to live, besides work and home.
I hope that we may find, at the other end, how much we value the places we live. Rather than permanently switching to ordering everything online through mega-retailers, I hope that we all make an extra effort to support the local creators and shops that make our towns and neighborhoods Places with unique character, Places that represent the people who live where we do and reflect our physical location in the world. (I say this as someone who shops on Amazon, so no judgment if you do as well.) While there is value in travel and experiencing other cultures, there is value, too, in deeply getting to know the places where we live.
Conformist Feature: Author Cass Holiday
Cass Holiday, Conformist #19-840-0008, is working throughout the pandemic to release her newest book, Nothing Haunted, Nothing Gained, which is available to pre-order on Kindle. Nothing Haunted, Nothing Gained is a sweet, romantic comedy of helpful ghosts, found families, existential dread and an epic D&D game.
She has published three other books, including a paranormal shifter romance, dragon shifter romance, and erotic science fiction short story collection. They are available to read through Kindle Unlimited or to purchase through Kindle.
Your Conformist Assignment: Mail a Letter
While much communication during the pandemic has shifted online, seeking a replacement for in-person, real-time connection, the tangible is still missing. Fill that void by sending someone a letter (or even a postcard if you don’t have much to say). A physical token of affection and care. Everyone loves the surprise of finding something real in the mailbox. What seems like a small gesture may make a big difference to the person who gets it.
Registered Conformists may earn a point towards their rewards for sending a letter - no proof necessary. Simply email support@bureauofconformity.us with your name, Conformist number, and state that you mailed a letter.
Yours in Conformity,
Drake Starling
Director, Bureau of Conformity