Not much prose to go here. It’s December 24th, 2023. I am on the couch with my English bulldog Kirby. I have a phone date with my high school best friend in an hour and fifteen minutes. A thrice annual occurrence, what with the holiday and each of our birthdays. Christopher is swimming at the gym. I don’t think I’ll get there today, but that’s OK, I swam yesterday. I can always run on my own. But that’s not what this thing is about. I didn’t plan on trying Twelve12s again.

My intention this year is to create memories. Seek out joy. Prioritize pleasure over accomplishment or delayed gratification. Contenders for my word for 2024 are exhilarate, delight, and chirk, but they sound too extreme, too boring, and too obscure (and assuming a slightly negative state of being) respectively. I’m going to settle for GLADDEN.

In the spirit of begetting memories and with an intention to gladden, here are Twelve12s to consider:

  • write 12 letters
  • go on 12 dates
  • make 12 phone calls
  • do 12 pull-ups or handstands
  • go to the gym 12 days each month (3x/week)
  • run 12 routes
  • bake 12 doughs or batters
  • cook 12 recipes
  • knit, sing, write, or draw 12 creations
  • travel at least 12 days
  • marvel at 12 cultural outings (museum, music, theater, talks)
  • watch 12 films

And with that, see you around!