What is the connection between artistic expression and the joy of living? How can one best live a literary life? This book is a collection of small word-projects. Each examines a book, a moment, a story that helps to deepen the author's literary adv...
I came back from vacation to my life in Japan in 2020, a few weeks before the start of the COVID pandemic, with the most unwriterly, unromantic idea for a project ever. I would dedicate myself to 52 small projects to improve my life. Little projects that would make a big difference.
It was me at my most MBAish. Efficiency, pragmatism, and all that non-malarkey!
I named the project "The New 52" after the DC reboot of its titles. Now, I have to look up why DC decided to name the project "The New 52". The Wikipedia page informs me that it was called the "New 52" because DC stripped down its projects to 52 titles. They were new because DC was starting from scratch.
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Now, looking back, I see that my projects included things like: reaching out to friends, smiling more, learning to cook simple meals, and running. Some of these projects took off. Some of them didn't. The pandemic had other plans for me. (I did start running!)
Strangely, the pandemic and the abundance of free time it created freed me to be even more frivolous and liberal artsy.
I don't think I want to revive this project entirely. Perhaps it died for good reasons. I certainly don't want to dedicate myself to 52 new projects.
But I would like to do something in the spirit of this project. I believe the underlying core of the project is still sound: small projects with a big impact.
What would these projects be:
1 - Smile more.
2 - Connect with family and friends.
3 - Find my next life project.
4 - Add 5 to 10 minutes more to each exercise routine.
The one thing I will say about this project...if I am even to undertake it is this: there are no magic bullets to solve the problems of the world. There is only: struggling well. So, if I do the new 52...in reality, probably more like a dirty dozen—I must do it with a humble attitude.
