Grace
This went out two days ago as issue 16 of The Angelo Report, a weekly newsletter published every Sunday afternoon.
There are about ten weeks or so left in the year. When you hear that, do you think about:
- what you're going to tackle in 2025?
- what you've got left to do in 2024?
It's a little of both, for me, and none of it feels especially good. I expected to launch a new app by the end of the year, but as it stands, that schedule seems pretty unlikely. I've been struggling to kick off (or restart) certain habits, like exercising and meditating. I'm setting standards for myself, but having trouble executing. There's a lot going on that's robbing me of energy and focus.
I'm not writing this to vent, but to level-set. We all know by now that most of what you see on social media is a curated, best-of playlist that people put out there to seem like they're on top of their game, that they're thriving, and that life showers them with nothing but rainbows and puppies in return. The reality is that we're mostly holding it together, sure, but we're otherwise all struggling with something, and moving through life carrying that struggle with some degree of grace.
Some measure of struggle is important, I think. It builds character, as they say.
(Of course, too much struggle stunts growth.)
But carrying that struggle with grace is the hardest part. It's finding patience when it feels like you have no time. It's showing kindness when you're feeling ongoing pain. It's being generous when you don't feel like you'll ever have enough for yourself.
And in some cases, it's seeking meaning when you feel like you need a little comfort.
While my grace lapses in all of the ways I've listed here, this one —slumping in comfort— is the one that bites me most often, I think.
Whatever you're struggling with, I hope you find grace in carrying it.
Around The Web
- Jack Raines writes about the cost of apathy — how we prioritize comfort over living intentionally, and that true fulfilment comes from crafting your life around your values, your ambitions, and taking chances.
- Kurt Armstrong writes about perseverance and commitment in Repair and Remain. It's easy to seek quick fixes or run away when things get tough, but eventually that just makes everything worse.
Recommendations
* Recommendations may contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own, and I only recommend what I've enjoyed or look forward to.
📚 I've been enjoying Dana Miranda's [Healthy Rich]() newsletter, and pre-ordered her upcoming book You Don't Need a Budget: Stop Worrying about Debt, Spend Without Shame, and Manage Money with Ease on Audible. I've been using tools like You Need A Budget for a very long time, and as someone that's working to launch a new personal finance app, I'm very curious about this recent-ish movement that urges folks to avoid budgeting and instead use things like automation and developing a relationship with money to navigate their finances.