You. Make. It. Better.

Do The Thing

And so we come limping and panting to the end (nearly) of 2024. That means my annual ritual of taking a small social media break. Not here, of course, but over at those other platforms. I'll be away from the digital chaos for a few days, a time to re-center, declutter, get ready for a new year and, in the case of this year, to celebrate just getting through it!

Also, in the last couple days, we’ve had a large influx of brand spankin’ new subscribers. So… hi!

Finally, this also means Little Bean's tenth birthday is tomorrow. Ten. 10. One Zero. If I dwell on that too much, I’ll pass out.

Today and tomorrow, we will celebrate her birthday with the greatest fan fare we can muster; sugar and ruckus causing and adventure!

And so, as an annual tradition to all my followers, old and new, I post a little challenge to you all each year right around this time. (I realize this may conflict with my orders a few days ago to do nothing, but I never claimed to be consistent or even makes sense most of the time.)

It's easy to get sidetracked by goals not accomplished, by the stress of the holidays. How often we lose track of time, of money, of family, always busy. And this year, more than any other I can remember, has just been a bear.

So, here's my annual challenge to you. Do art. (#doart)

And since art is passion, do whatever it is that gives you life. Do what will help you breathe. Do the thing that you need to do. Don't wait.

Create. Write. Paint. Build stuff. Learn something. Read the dusty books on your shelf you always said you would. Read out loud to your neighbor's cat. Belly laugh like a maniac for no reason.

Listen to music you really like, like Holy Wars (check out Little Bean’s new shirt). Listen to it so loudly, your neighbor listens to it as well.

Take care of somebody. Cook for fun. Wrap tiny stones in tissue paper and give them out for gifts. Sort your batteries. Sharpen your pencils. Clean your closet. Clean somebody else's closet. Wear your socks backward, or don't wear them at all. Give anything to anybody as a gift. Do the thing you've been saying for years you're gonna do but never had the time.

Eat nothing but sardines all day. Run around your backyard waving your arms. Make shadow puppets. Collect all your toy cars and create a parade. Learn how to juggle.

Learn a magic trick. Look at Orion. Or at a drone. Pinky swear a secret with someone. Comb your hair different. Talk to your fish. Do origami, even if you don’t know how, especially if you don’t know how.

Call somebody straight out of the blue that you haven’t spoken to in years, or ever.

Or, do nothing. Literally find a half hour and sit there quietly and think about stuff. Or don't think. Just sit. Or don't sit. Jump on one leg. Or sleep.

But whatever you decide to do, here’s the catch.

Be. Deliberate.

You have a couple days to make yours and maybe somebody else's world a tiny bit better. Or weirder. Don't wait for the next terrible thing to happen. Don't think about what somebody else is doing. Don't wait for January first because there is no reset. Don't wait for somebody else to do it. Just make it better.

You. Make. It. Better.

So, let's all meet back here in a few days with a story, each of us having something intimate and personal and beautiful to share. Something that made you cry. Something that you can't wait to tell us about. Go now. Go make your art.

One last thing - You are all the best. It’s been my distinct privilege and joy to share with you each and every day and to have you in my life. I’m honored that you all have given us this space in your lives. (Honored and sort of stunned.)

Now… don’t wait any longer. Get going. I can’t wait to hear about what you did.

---

Coming Tomorrow: For Little Bean’s birthday, we’re going to drop - exclusively for all you beautiful people here at Day By Day - our video vlog of our Thunderstruck concert! Till then, stop by and give our YouTube channel, Dispatches From the Rail a try! We think you’ll like it! Rock on!