These final days of a long strange year
Thanks to neepernu, Michael, Tegan, and svcseattle for their recent support.
Hi friend,
Grades are turned in. Assorted reports have been filed. January and February calendars are bursting at the seams. On the home front, we're double-checking window locks, frantically licking stamps and envelopes, and emptying out the fridge.
The year winds down.
Oh, and the $3.99 owed to me by Dunkin' Donuts LLC has finally been returned. 🙏🏻 (I kept you out of the drama, just sharing the joy of resolution.)
It's nice to have things to look forward to in the coming months, as there is a great deal to not look forward to in the coming, uh...well, however long it's going to be.
In early 2025, I'm looking forward to...
...teaching. At least two classes in the spring, one for my own Content Career Accelerator, one for the University of Rhode Island, both on UX writing. And likely another for School of Visual Arts, topic TBA. I mean, I know what the topic is, but I don't want to jinx it.
...reminiscing. I hope to catch up with IA Summit peeps in April when the now Information Architecture Conference (long story) lands along the Northeast Corridor, which I've retreated to as both the primary method and region I care to travel these days. I've booked a hotel, set a reminder to buy my ticket, and am thinking about what to submit for poster night, as my admittedly slapdash speaking proposal was not accepted. Which is perhaps for the best, as a feeling of overwhelm is already settling in.
...leveling up. I'm putting a revised, more-structured career coaching program through its paces starting in January. It's a 12-week program with three dedicated workshops, four flexible/tactical 1-on-1s, portfolio and resume reviews, and unlimited email/DM support. (A few spots remain open for this program which officially runs January to March; hit reply and send me a note if you'd like more info.)
...painting. That's the new lark. Textural abstract acrylic neon daydream stuff. I've been doing more visual art of late, and my partner got me many nice things to try out and play with for Christmas. (We did our own Christmas already, as we're traveling soon. Many cookies were eaten, many films were watched.)
...planning. I've been away from my pens and notebooks, my longer-term plans and schemes. It's felt busy busy, go go. I need to recenter. Like so many fools before me, I'm looking forward to buying a new notebook, grabbing a favorite pen, and writing down all kinds of things that won't actually happen in the next 1 to 5 years. But it still feels good to plan, reflect, and focus, fiction or not.
I'm avoiding U.S. political news now not because I can't handle it but because it's so repetitive and predictable. Awful, boring, dangerous people select more awful, boring, dangerous people to do awful, boring, dangerous things. News at 11.
So I probably don't have to tell you the things I am not looking forward to, as you're probably not looking forward to them either. I had been saying it was all so exhausting but the word ringing in my head now is haunted. I feel haunted. For instance: I haven't been able to stop thinking about this story since I first read it in November 2020. It still feels like we never truly grieved, perhaps even acknowledged, what we all went through, and now it's four years later and we're moving backwards. And there has been so much in these past four years that also needs acknowledged, grieved, reckoned with, resolved. It has been an arduous climb, and now, whoop, there we go, sliding down the brambly embankment back to the start.
The thing is, you have to carry on even if you're not calm, because there's no brake on this thing. So I am striving for calm. You can be calm and resolved, calm and aggrieved, calm and determined, calm and unflinching. There are plenty of reasons to panic, and I suppose in some way I am, but I don't see much value in being demonstratively panicked. In the coming year, may we all be spared the scolding and screeching of those dealing with the misery by trying to bring you into their company.
One source of calm and joy for me of late has been Christmas TV of yesteryear. A few in my recent history:
Any of your favorite SNL christmas skits; I’m partial to Twin Bed, Christmas Morning, Holiday Jewelery, and, speaking of, Dunkin’ Donuts
I hope you find what you need in these final days of a long strange year, even if it is merely ease and self-kindness about not quite finding it.
If I may: It would be quite helpful to me if you were to share about my UX writing course offering with someone who may benefit from it. If you’re not sure whom that is, perhaps you could drop a note to your LinkedIn network, or pop it into a design, content, or marketing channel of a Slack you’re in. I don't know if it's the best UX writing course around, but it is certainly one of the best values. We all need a lot for a little these days, if we can get it.
Take care out there. And as always, let me know if I can help with anything. Just hit reply.
Warmly,
Scott