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Hey Reader,

Where in the hell did this month go?

For me it was packed with travel, sickness, Bocce tournaments, work, Elden Ring, and...not writing.

I mean, I wrote one solid blog post draft*, but I didn't release a single article during February.

Do you ever have months like that? Where, despite your best (or nonexistent) intentions, you make no headway toward your goals? I struggle to cut myself slack when I fall so far below expectations, but beating myself up also doesn't seem to help.

Have you found a way to manage your internal thoughts in these situations? Do you have a secret strategy for balancing motivation and self-forgiveness? (For reals, let me know if you do!)

While I have yet to find that sweet spot, I decided to get over my apathy and despair (the mind likes to be dramatic at times😂) to make sure this newsletter made it out!

So, as per usual, here are some things I found interesting/inspirational during February:

*Insider knowledge: It's an article about job interviewing that I'm stoked to release!

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​Five Books That I Loved in the Past Year​

These articles are some of my favorite to write; I get to recall special moments from my reading journey and share them with all of you!

If you enjoy reading on any level, I think you'll find at least one of these books that strikes your fancy.

The one I'm most likely to re-read this year: Think Like a Monk.

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​Unlimited vacation is a scam unless managers fight burnout culture​

With so much talk about four-day work weeks, remote work, and work-life balance, the concept of unlimited vacation seems like a step in the right direction - and it is, sort of.

This article offers a unique perspective on unlimited vacation days - positing that there's a negative side to a less defined vacation package.

What are your thoughts on this?

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​CreativeMornings​

On the quest to meet people in my new city, I stumbled upon CreativeMornings, "the world’s largest face-to-face creative community."

I wasn't able to attend a local meeting until last month, but I'm so glad it finally happened.

It took place at Citizen Vinyl, a local record presser and coffee shop, and everything about the event brought joy to my heart.

Despite being a newbie with glaring social anxiety, I felt included and part of a community that cared about art, creation, growth, and positive change.

If you're looking for ways to connect with other creatives in your area, I encourage you to see if there's a local CreativeMornings chapter (there are a ton of them - as you can see on the map above)!

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Tool: Alfred​

It's shocking when a single, unassuming piece of software can save real time in your day.

For my current job I often need to access previously copied text, but most clipboards only keep the very last thing copied.

In walks Alfred.

Rather than find and re-copy the text I need to paste, and thus waste valuable seconds of time, I can now quickly pull up a clipboard history and find whatever text I need.

This easily saves me five to ten minutes every day!

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And It's Amost Spring?

I'm ready - for warmer days, green foliage, and new energy.

My goal is to release two new blog posts this month, but we'll see how my mental/physical health cooperates.

Whatever the case, I'm appreciative, as always, of your support. The newsletter makes writing feel more personal in an energizing way - so thanks!

I hope you have an incredible March and beginning of Spring, and I'll see you in a month.✌🏼

Cheers,

James

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P.S. I know the newsletter will naturally continue to grow if I consistently provide valuable content, but if you feel like giving it a little boost, consider telling a friend about it!