Hello again, dear reader.
In case you're new here, I'm Alastair Johnston and you're receiving this newsletter because you subscribed over at my blog or via a link from Substack. I'm grateful for you giving me some of your time and attention and hope I always inform or entertain you here. If not, please feel free to unsubscribe, I won't be offended.
Dark winter evenings give time for reflection. So here’s what I’ve learned from looking back at another year of writing on my website and this little newsletter.
Running is really, really good for both physical health and mental health. I ran on snow, I ran in appalling weather while on holiday and I donned a Santa outfit and ran with 6,000 other souls at Christmas as well as weekly, regular runs around my neighbourhood. If there is anything I can recommend you consider to boost your overall sense of well-being it would be to go for a run.
Be aware of each precious moment. Appreciate the little, fleeting things like Daffodils. Notice the world and what’s going on around you rather than staring at screens.
Reduce distractions, disconnect in order to live better and more in the moment. Maybe consider a sabbath watch to protect your weekends or a real film camera to remove the distractions when creating photographs. Analogue things definitely trump digital ones. And notebooks beat phones.
I considered how choosing to leave social media platforms removes your complicity in practices they have that you don’t agree with. And to replace the fake, algorithm controlled communication they offer, maybe go old school, start a blog or website and create a more human powered Hello Page.
As I divested myself of more social media, I also took a first step in becoming more tech independent by moving my main laptop from Mac to Linux, something that I’m still really happy about and will write more on in 2024.
I learned that googly eyes make the world a little bit brighter. Try this one yourself, I dare you not to smile afterwards.
Finally, my post about my late Grandad, when I re-read it, underlined what seems to be becoming a mini manifesto for where I want to go. Reducing screens, living more on my own terms, writing, doing my thing. This is what you’ll see more of in the next year.
That’s it for 2023. I’ll be back in 2024 with lots of new ideas, thoughts and ponderings, but if you have any comments on anything I’ve covered, do get in touch as we can all learn from each other.
Thanks for sticking with my meandering writings and for all of the comments, coffees and camaraderie. I wish you a happy and peaceful new year.
Alastair