5 Experiences Worth Having Before the End of the Year

Lately, life has felt a little too routine. I'm not someone who likes to row the same stretch of river for too long before looking for a fork to explore. Routine can be a good thing, but there's a cost to staying in our comfort zone for too long.

With that in mind, this week's newsletter looks a little different.

Over the past few years, I've shared a lot of ideas. This week, I simply want to share five experiences I think are worth making time for before the end of the year. They're inexpensive, accessible, and each one has the potential to become a story you'll tell long after it happens.

Here are five experiences I'd make time for before the end of the year.

Serve somewhere uncomfortable.

Volunteer somewhere that introduces you to people whose lives look different from your own. Few experiences build empathy faster than stepping outside your normal environment.

Walk somewhere you'd normally drive.

The world looks different at three miles an hour. You'll notice people, conversations, and little details that disappear through a windshield. Bonus challenge: leave the AirPods at home and immerse yourself in the world around you.

Wake up two hours earlier than normal.

Use the time however you please. Watch the sunrise. Read a book. Sit on the porch with a cup of coffee. Go for a walk. The point isn't to be more productive. It's to experience a part of the day most of us sleep through.

Buy a stranger's coffee, meal, or groceries.

It probably won't change their life, but it just might change their day. Generosity has a funny way of making both people walk away a little richer.

Say what doesn't need to be said.

Tell someone, "I love you," "I'm proud of you," or "I miss you." We often wait for birthdays, graduations, or big moments to say meaningful things. This week, tell a buddy you usually give a hard time that you're proud of him. If either of you thinks it's weird, it's probably a sign those words need to be said more often.

Usually, this newsletter includes a story from my life. The truth is, those stories all started with simple experiences like the ones above. Pick one, step outside your routine, and go create a story of your own.

Fact

According to researchers at Cornell University, people tend to derive more lasting happiness from experiences than from material possessions. Experiences become part of our identity, are more likely to be shared with others, and often grow more meaningful as we reflect on them.

Action

Reply to this email and tell me which experience you chose. I'd love to hear the story that comes from it.

Question

Which of these five experiences makes you the most anxious or uncomfortable?

Quote

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." - John A. Shedd