All the gratitude!
All the gratitude!
Notes on Creative Breaks, Books, and More
Letters from Tammy Strobel is a free weekly newsletter about creativity and curiosity, funded through Buy Me a Coffee.
Hi friends,
First, I want to say thank you!
Thank you for reading my newsletter during 2022. I know there is plenty to read, watch, and listen to online, and I'm appreciative of your readership and support.
This month, I’ve done a lot of journaling about my creative life. I realized that I’ve been sharing my creative work online for the last 15 years. I’ve written thousands of blog posts, hundreds of newsletters, several books, and more.
Whether you are a new or longtime reader, thanks for sticking with me. I’m grateful.
Today, I have four updates to share with you:
1.) Last Newsletter of 2022
Building breaks into my life is one way I avoid burnout, so this will be my last newsletter of 2022. During my break, I’ll be journaling, reassessing my job search and career path, hanging out with loved ones, and spending time outside. The crisp sunny weather is gorgeous! I’m looking forward to taking bike rides and walks in the park.
2.) Annual Review
Last weekend, I taught Journaling for Joy for a small group of lovely people. It was a delight to connect with attendees on Zoom!
In the Q & A, a participant asked if I read my old journals. Typically, I reference my old notebooks once a quarter. I also read my journals when I do my annual review on my birthday.
Reading my journals is one way I reflect on my year. It was fun to look back on everything that transpired during my 43rd year on the planet. I'm excited to see how my new year unfolds.
3.) Kitty Love
We adopted Ursula the Cat on December 15, 2021. Ursula has been living with us for one-year, and has grown fast! She’s doubled in size, learned how to jump, and comes to her name (most of the time). Our baby kitten is no longer a kitten. She’s a Junior
who is very active and loving.
4.) Books, Books, Books
I read over 45 books this year! Usually, I read more books in a year. But, I've been trying to read books slowly. This gives me the opportunity to take notes and reflect on what I’ve read. This change has been excellent for my reading life.
Out of all the books I read, I have a handful of favorites. Here’s my list in no particular order:
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman is sobering and beautiful. The book changed my relationship with time, mortality, and it reminded me that I'm not a robot.
Writing Away: A Creative Guide to Awakening the Journal-Writing Traveler by Lavinia Spalding is filled with amazing writing prompts and stories. It also reminded me to bring my traveling mindset into my daily life. If you're in need of writing inspiration, I highly recommend this book!
In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom tells the story of Bloom’s husband, Brian, getting Alzheimer's and his choice to end his life. The story is compelling, powerful, and a reminder not to take life for granted.
One Year on a Bike and Two Years on a Bike by Martijn Doolaard are big and beautiful books! We discovered Doolaard's books at Daunt Books in London. We considered buying the books at Daunt’s, but they were too heavy to carry though England, France, Portugal, and then home. When we returned from Europe, we bought Doolaard’s books from a local bookstore. I'm so glad we did! Doolaard’s photography and writing is gorgeous. Plus, reading his books is so much better than scrolling through Instagram!
See my Bookshop for additional book recommendations.
Good Links
Looking for more good reads? Explore the links below:
My book publisher New World Library is offering a special 50% discount on every book they publish, including mine! Visit newworldlibrary.com by 12/19 to save.
The New York Times recently published their list of 100 notable books.
NPR's list of "Books We Love" is epic!
Want to learn about the science of reading? Listen to the podcast series: “Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong.”
See you in 2023! And, thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed this post, hit the heart button below. You can also support this newsletter through Buy Me a Coffee, commenting, or sharing my letter with a friend.
With gratitude,
Tammy Strobel
FOOTNOTES
Check out my books at tstrobel.com.
During 2022, I took over 1,200 photos of Ursula! I culled through my photos and created a gallery of my favorite images. See photos.
Travel journaling was FUN this summer! In July 2022, we visited friends in England, France, and Portugal. We called our trip “The Friend Tour.” See my travel photos.