Festive 🗞️ Slow News Day #26

Hey,

Past Joe here. I’ve scheduled this in advance, as I’m off work for a couple of weeks now. Usual service with the newsletter, if you can forgive a bit of time-bending.

Christmas is a funny time. I know I put a lot of pressure on myself at this time of year.

I have high expectations of myself:

• Must give meaningful, thoughtful gifts that reflect how much I care about people.

• Must be present for every person and experience—goodwill and cheer, innit.

• Must make sure I see everybody who I care about and am related to.

I have high expectations of others:

• We’ll have a lovely day on the 25th and feel beautifully connected and close.

• We’ll all be equally present with each other (as I expect myself to be).

• We’ll all feel equally appreciated, respected, and heard.

And I tell myself so many stories about stress, excitement, obligations, ideals, morals, and so much more. It’s pretty exhausting.

I’d be lying if I said I’m scrapping it all this year—this is the product of 28ish years of experience, after all. I guess what I’m aiming for is to just hold it all a little less tightly. Let stuff happen, let stuff emerge, ease off the intensity of expectation.

High hopes? Not exactly. But I’ve got the intention to try, at least.

To bring this back to you, dear reader, all I have to say is that this time of year can be hard for many people. If you count yourself in that group, I really hope the next few weeks go okay and you get respite, peace, and some good times in amongst it all.

Slow down guide

Need a little help moving slower?

Ease your way out of Friday afternoon with this newsletter, a nice cup of something, and a little background music. Steal my setup if you aren't sure where to start.

After I press send, I’m turning to Union Roasted’s Yayu Forest roast and slapping it in the Clever Dripper. I imagine it’s a bit post-cool to say this in 2022, but Ethiopian coffees really are the bomb. Short of the Bukonzo Dream lot out of Uganda across 2021/2022, pretty much all of my recent favourites have been Ethiopian. Great food there, as well... I might have to stick it on the 2023 digital nomad list, at this rate. I’ll order some extra Factor 50 now.

Have some fun with Pom Poko’s Danger Baby if you want a bright and fruity accompaniment to your bright and fruity brew. That riff in the chorus is pure summertime. Just don’t look out the window and you’ll basically be there in the festival field.

Take it easy,