January Make Time Is Past 🛸

AND Boomerang Mail Prompt!

Hi & Hello!

Thanks to Layered, EVAPORATED, Shapeshifter, acceleration, and a net for joining January Make Time! It was so special to see your faces, make time together, AND welcome our first Canadian guest! Woot. (FYI: We re-named ourselves with a single word we each feel describes the concept of ‘time’. Would love to hear yours.)

Below I will share with you the Boomerang Mail Prompt activity we partook in, and encourage you to participate! In the mean time, some other neat things that arose:

• A reminder to watch 4 Tracks, 1 Tape which features the song “Wax, Wane, Repeat” and multiple Make Timers

• Some themes and topics around hibernation and rest reminded me of the book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May and her newish podcast “How We Live Now”

• There was one more thing, but now I forget! (Someone please remind me!)

BUT REALLY - the best part of every January Make Time is the Boomerang Mail Prompt (Join In!)

A few times each year I offer a Boomerang Mail Prompt at Make Time, and to you through the newsletter. The basic premise: You write a letter to yourself and your own words come back to you at some time in the future (very often when you most need it). I’d LOVE for you to join in, and I suspect your future self will too. Keep reading for the prompt and instructions. Activity time: 10-15 minutes.

Supplies: Gather up: 1 piece of paper, 2 mailing envelopes, 2 FOREVER stamps. (Don’t forget, postal rates change on Jan 22). If you are outside the United States, you will only need 1 stamp that will get mail to the US.

Step 1: On your piece of paper, write yourself a note answering this question to yourself: How do I most want to waste time in the year ahead? Write yourself a quick note, or a long letter answering that question.

Step 2: Fold your paper and tuck it in one of your envelopes. Seal it shut. Address the envelope to your future self. Ie, your name and address at a location you can be found in 3-6 months). Add your return address, and a FOREVER stamp. (If you are outside the U.S. do not add a stamp.) You should not have a sealed, stamped envelope addressed to future YOU!

Step 3: Place your sealed, stamped and addressed envelope inside the other (empty) envelope. You may have to fold your original envelope in half - that’s cool. Seal the outer envelope shut, add a stamp, and address the envelope to the address below. Then pop it in your mailbox to take flight. I’ll keep it safe here (and I won’t open your inner envelope or read your words, promise) and at some point in the future I’ll send your envelope and words back to you.

Address the outer envelope to:
Wasting Time
Make Time Farm
6666 W Stuart Rd
Beloit, WI 53511
USA

You can do this ANYTIME. Don’t worry if you ‘read this too late’ or don’t put it in the mailbox until February. This prompt is here for you anytime you need it. Any questions - let me know. But I hope you’ll take a moment to think about the concept of ‘wasting time’ and what that means for you - and how that can be a part of your year ahead.

Keep posted for our next Make Time (online, anyone can come!) on 2/12. I can’t wait to see your faces. And I’d love to hear how you are making time in between.

In good time,
vanessa