I haven't sent a Shift Note in weeks, and part of the reason is that I started feeling like I was repeating myself. There are only so many times I can tell you that if something in your work or your life isn't working, you're allowed to change it, before both of us start wondering whether I have anything else to talk about.
I still believe that, probably more than ever, but I think I needed a little break from talking about it.
What I've been thinking about instead lately is joy.
Maybe that sounds like an odd thing to be thinking about right now, because there is an awful lot happening that does not feel particularly joyful. Everything seems to cost more, going to the grocery store has become its own small financial adventure, there always seems to be another food recall, and every time you get any news there's something else happening that is frightening, infuriating, heartbreaking, or likely to cost us more money.
It is a lot.
I'm not someone who believes we should ignore all of that and just focus on the positive. I don't think pretending everything is fine makes anything fine. But I've started wondering whether, when so much of what is happening is outside our control, it becomes even more important to notice the things that are still good.