Lau's Little List - June 29, 2024
Welcoming the heat, sunshine, and relaxation of summer
Greetings all!
Summer is fully here, and it has laid its sweltering hand upon my neck of the woods. On this sunny Saturday, I wanted to share some reading, writing, and randomness that relate to my favorite season đ Surely this quote will put you in a summer state of mind:
Quote of the Week:
âI can feel a sunshine stealing into my soul and making it all summer, and every thorn, a rose.â
â Emily Dickinson
Some Hot, Sweaty Reading:
Dune by Frank Herbert. Hey, guys! Have you heard about this incredible sci-fi series called Dune? Yes, I know Iâm quite late to the party, but I finally picked up (and burned through) the first novel in the series last week. It has taken me a few decades to accept that I like sci-fi, but this book removed any doubt from my mind.
Set on the desert planet of Arrakis, Dune follows the Atreides family as they take over ruling Arrakis from their bitter enemies, the Harkonnens. The native Fremen were treated terribly by their former rulers, but Duke Leto Atreides is hopeful to win over the locals and ease his transition to power. Letoâs teenage son, Paul, quickly grows interested in his new homeworld and its inhabitants, not the least of which because they seem to think heâs their prophesied messiah.
Narrated in a fully third-person-omniscient manner, Dune somehow manages to share every characterâs inner thoughts and futures, yet continually surprises the reader with how these motivations and fates unfold. Herbert builds an incredibly deep and immersive world â nay, galaxy â in this Nebula- and Hugo-Award-winning novel, populated with equally complex and realistic characters.
If youâve already read Dune, Iâd love to know your thoughts on it!
Some Writing Advice That Filled Me With A Warm, Sunny Feeling:
I subscribe to James Clearâs 3-2-1 newsletter, where he provides 6 inspirational quotes (3+2+1) on a given theme. Recently, he offered this piece of advice:
"You can cold email nearly anyone, but nearly everyone overlooks how powerful it can be.
Sending one email each week that feels like a stretch can change your life. Will you get turned down? Sure, most of the time. But you only need one to pay off for something amazing to happen.
Take your time, write a thoughtful message, and muster the courage to press Send."
- James Clear
Figuring I had nothing to lose, I gave it a shot. I emailed a podcaster I admired.
He wrote back.
I emailed a professor who shared a great lecture series online.
He wrote back.
I emailed a legendary YA author.
She wrote back!
In each case, I shared my admiration in a personal and specific way, expecting nothing in return. The responses made my day. From the warm tones they responded with, I think I even brightened their days as well.
You donât need to reach out to someone famous or influential to enjoy this writing advice; you could express your appreciation to a friend or family member or colleague. You could send a favorable message to a store or a service you recently used, giving an employee a positive shout-out. Whatever you write, make sure itâs sincere. You might not hear back, but worst-case scenario, you sent a little sunshine out into the world.
Some Random Vacation Tips:
This Reddit Post. Weâve all heard the most common travel advice (Talk to the locals to find the best restaurants, sights, activities, etc.; the smaller the suitcase, the bigger your enjoyment; learn some basic phrases in the native language). If you travel enough, youâve probably also had many or all of these backfire on you (like when an Asheville local said there was no need to show up early at âtheir tiny little airportâ and was so packed we nearly missed our plane).
Yes, every vacation (and vacationer) is different, but this Reddit post shares some universally helpful tips Iâd never encountered before. I never realized before what luxuries socks and hats can be!
And that's it! What did you think? Please share Lauâs Little List with anyone who you think would enjoy my recommendations!
I would greatly appreciate any feedback you'd like to provide. Which tip was your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of in the next installment? Do you have any other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts.