"No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away—until the clock he wound winds down, until the wine she made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someone’s life is only the core; the actual life is as wide as the world they touched." — Terry Pratchett
First and foremost, this newsletter is about people.
About people in the sense that with every release we want to highlight individuals and their experiences. Bringing a life in view and following that person’s choices and accomplishments across its span is a great opportunity that as a a writer I don’t take lightly. As one of our readers, we ask the same of you. Read our letters through a compassionate lens - as if you were reading about the passing of a loved one, a community member, or a role model. In all likelihood for the people you’ll read about as one of our subscribers the featured person was just that - a parent, a spouse, a leader, and above all, human.
About people in the sense that every issue we release adds to a library of content that seeks to grapple with what we can do with the time we have. In some sense that is a futile effort because there is no ultimately correct answer. In another sense, a library like the one we are trying to construct is the closest that we can get to an answer. As we accrue the stories of lives and provide thoughtful commentary, we can pull out the characteristics that our readers, our writers, our critics, and society as a whole deem worthwhile. This can give us some meta traits that make up a life well lived.
About people in the sense that this newsletter is just as much for the lives of the readers as it is for the lives of those we choose to highlight.
Death is an uncomfortable part of life, but nonetheless is a great contributor to what gives life its meaning. One of the most common cliches for framing this concept is that of fresh flowers versus artificial flowers. Shouldn’t we prefer artificial flowers to fresh since fake flowers can be perfectly designed and never die? Even in writing that sentence, the word fake implies “second-rate” or “less-than”. The answer of course, is no. Fresh flowers have much more substance - they’re pleasant to the eye, lacking the sterilized feel of plastic. Fresh flowers aren’t perfect and they certainly aren’t forever, and that makes them all the more special.
Stop and smell the flowers. Finally, fresh flowers have a beautiful smell. As subscribers to this letter it is my sincere hope that you take some time to appreciate the choices you and others make with the time we’re given.
What careers do we choose?
What hobbies do we enjoy?
Whose company do we cherish?
Our own obituary awaits each of us. By reading each release, let’s celebrate someone else’s life and become better at being deliberate with our own.
I’ll see you in the next release, for as long as the time I’ve been given allows it.
Tanner James