🎁 The gifts I gave myself in July 2023
An indulgent solo date + a bit of outsourcing
Your Five-Year Plan is a newsletter about embracing life’s profound uncertainty.
Maybe your own plans went up in flames; maybe you’re considering a big, scary leap. This is your trusty companion while you’re writing the next life chapter.
Welcome to the conversation—and to the adventure that unfolds when your plans go sideways. This is letter #15. ✨
☀️ How was your week?
This week, I visited the beach most evenings. Last year, I got into the habit of beginning my days with a thermos of coffee and a walk along the shores of Commencement Bay. I became a regular, befriending fellow morning walkers (and their adorable dogs), and enjoying how grounded I felt after starting each morning at the water’s edge.
Then, I was pulled back to Chicago; along with so many other things, I lost my daily beachgoing habit. (Winter walks by Lake Michigan would’ve been, well, just a tad harsher.)
But it’s never too late to reestablish a routine. No need to give ourselves a hard time about getting away from something we know is good for us. Just gently start again, and repeat as many times as necessary.
Foster kittens: they grow up so fast! If you have kids, you already understand what I’m just discovering via my three foster kittens: it’s so magical to watch tiny things reach new developmental milestones.
At first, the kittens’ tails were as thin as spaghetti strands, and they just kind of…hung there. One day, that changed: their tails became expressive, swishing and wiggling and fluttering with each changing emotion.
They went from having two noises at their disposal—a soft chirrup and a high-pitched squeak—to being able to growl, and express new and nuanced points of view through their meows.
Suffice to say, it’s been a special process to observe.
🎁 Today’s letter is for paid subscribers.
Your support makes this newsletter possible! This special edition is my way of saying “thank you.” And writing for an intimate group allows me to cover personal topics that I’m navigating in real time.
You might remember my mini-manifesto about approaching life with a gift-giving mindset. In these dispatches, I share the gifts I gave my own Present and Future Self this month.
On to today’s letter!
The gifts I gave myself in July 2023
A recap of the month in treats and kindnesses, both large and small.