Thanks for this. I've been reading Suleika's book and really enjoying the prompts. I like the book so much I just gifted it to another friend. I appreciate finding resources like this, and your sharing secrets, because it helps keep my brain, and my life, from getting stagnant.
Love secret number 2 , it’s simply just reframing but so effective, I’m definitely trying it. I’m so one of those people that looks to the future for change and happiness, even though I tend to live in the ‘now’ I’ve somehow convinced myself things will be better for me in the future , ‘when the kids are older, when I retire, when I move out of London’ etc. but you’re right, life just moves on. I definitely need to change my thinking. Thanks for sharing Liza.
I still have to read Jaouad’s book, I have only heard a number of podcast interviews and she’s very inspiring. Curious is a wonderful word of the year.
I think your three points are very well made. And I agree with the surface and the depth of your argument. But I think there are a couple of other angles that this letter raises. The first is the concept of ageing. 45 isn’t old! Given that the first 15 years min we are children - then this correspondent is not even half way through her life. It’s never too late to make things better!
I think the second issue is that we often try to pinpoint what is wrong with our lives, employing the notion that ‘if only I could change this one thing’, then everything else would be fine. The wish to change Job, partner, location, colour of hair or size of boobs may be the thing that we become a little obsessive about. All I can say is that in my experience it’s unlikely to be any one thing and even less likely to be the thing we latch onto. The change can be radical, that’s a decision, but it could equally be gradual and involve a lot of minor adjustments. (Hope this helps someone).
Thanks for this. I've been reading Suleika's book and really enjoying the prompts. I like the book so much I just gifted it to another friend. I appreciate finding resources like this, and your sharing secrets, because it helps keep my brain, and my life, from getting stagnant.
Love secret number 2 , it’s simply just reframing but so effective, I’m definitely trying it. I’m so one of those people that looks to the future for change and happiness, even though I tend to live in the ‘now’ I’ve somehow convinced myself things will be better for me in the future , ‘when the kids are older, when I retire, when I move out of London’ etc. but you’re right, life just moves on. I definitely need to change my thinking. Thanks for sharing Liza.
I like the idea of living each day like it's your first. It does sound inviting and "curious" is my word for 2026, so it seems fitting :)
I read Suleika Jaouad's "Book of Alchemy" last July. It helped me start a regular journaling practice. I've journaled almost every day since!
I liked a lot of the practices in the book, and the practice of writing down ten memorable moments from the past 24 hours, was one of my favorites.
I still have to read Jaouad’s book, I have only heard a number of podcast interviews and she’s very inspiring. Curious is a wonderful word of the year.
I think your three points are very well made. And I agree with the surface and the depth of your argument. But I think there are a couple of other angles that this letter raises. The first is the concept of ageing. 45 isn’t old! Given that the first 15 years min we are children - then this correspondent is not even half way through her life. It’s never too late to make things better!
I think the second issue is that we often try to pinpoint what is wrong with our lives, employing the notion that ‘if only I could change this one thing’, then everything else would be fine. The wish to change Job, partner, location, colour of hair or size of boobs may be the thing that we become a little obsessive about. All I can say is that in my experience it’s unlikely to be any one thing and even less likely to be the thing we latch onto. The change can be radical, that’s a decision, but it could equally be gradual and involve a lot of minor adjustments. (Hope this helps someone).