I’m walking uphill. Panting.
The ice under my boots is slippery so I’m paying close attention to each step.
TOO close of attention.
So close that we miss our turn.
Of course, I don’t notice that until we have walked an extra hour up the mountain.
The view of those snow capped mountains across the icy lake is worth it though.
We make our way back to the right path.
We eat homemade granola bars and laugh about how long we added to our hike.
Point out how blue the lake is. Marvel at the rocky mountains all around us.
Talk about friendships and personality types and hiking boots.
I roll my ankle. We see a moose.
Stop to take some photos. Eat a peanut butter banana sandwich.
THIS is the whole point.
Not deadlines. Or productivity hacks. Or marketing tactics.
I didn’t think about work ONE time while I was out there amongst the mountains.
Even on the best vacations, I’ll still find myself thinking about a new service offering or how to lay out a client’s services page.
But not out there. Not by the glacial lake with a peanut butter sandwich in my hand. Out there it felt like my brain took a deep breath.
Sometimes we forget that those moments are the whole point.
No — I didn’t make that line up.
It’s from a trend online where people share grounding, small, sweet moments typically featuring family, friendships, or nature, with the caption:
I almost forgot this is the whole point.
I actually have loved seeing videos from this trend because it’s made me look around and appreciate the moments that matter in my own life.
There are a lot.
And although many of the moments that matter in my life do revolve around my work, most of them revolve around the hikes where I get lost.
The nights when I randomly decide to bake a cake.
Holding hands on a long drive.
Laughing around a table with people I adore.
Spending time with my Bible and a coffee.
The most perfect sunset through my kitchen window.
Sometimes, in the rush of my ‘business development’ and ‘goal setting’ and ‘chasing achievement’ I can forget what matters. I think we all can.
Because all of that matters. For sure.
But it’s definitely, definitely not the whole point.
🤠 What’s Cool…
Analog Intelligence.
Specifically, this insanely insightful, majorly inspiring newsletter from Ann Handley on how analog intelligence works to expand our creativity and makes us better thinkers.
Ann, a talented copywriter and speaker, always has such fascinating takes and ideas in her newsletter.
This one really struck a chord with me though because I’ve been feeling myself gravitate more and more to physical creativity recently.
Writing down ideas on paper, drawing out a landing page flow, and scrapbooking or painting just for fun.
Analog intelligence is necessary.
Analog connects us. To others and also to ourselves.
Our own thoughts, creativity, and problem solving.
Writing things down at the pace of a pencil & paper is a process. A process that is being lost with the instantaneous systems we use for the sake of productivity.
I really enjoyed Ann’s thoughts on this topic and after reading her email, I felt even more excited about the analog in my life and business.
Definitely recommend reading her email here!
📚 Currently Reading…
I’ve read several Fredrik Backman books in the past two years and I’ve had SO many people tell me I simply have to read his book, Beartown.
Beartown is about a community held together by their junior hockey team.
The hope for the future of this town rests on an incredibly talented young player as the team heads to the national semi-finals.
This book is beautifully written, tells a heartbreaking story, and provides so many layers of gray to the meaning of sport, hope, family, and community. It touches on some very sensitive subjects but I found Backman handled the topics very well.
Mostly, I just loved how he wrote about hockey. The highs and lows of the culture. The crushing pressure. The drive of every player and family member involved in the sport.
I gave it five stars — this man’s writing is just unlike any other!
🍊 Working On…
Here’s what’s going on at Belle White Creative HQ this week…
Kickoff Call Prep: I have a new client website project starting soon (very excited to work with this team!) so I’m working on the preparation (research, project plan) to have a smooth kickoff to the project.
Writing a New Case Study: I launched this stunning new website for a medical aesthetics studio last week so next on my list is to write a case study to showcase the project in my portfolio.
Watching the Survivor Finale: Soooo curious about how this season will end. I watch with a big group of friends every week and there are lots of different theories going around as to what’s going to happen.
Hosting a Coworking Day: I thought I would try hosting my own coworking day for some fellow WFH friends. I’ve attended similar events and wanted to create more opportunities for snacking and working with ‘coworkers’.
Thank you so much for being here and chat next Wednesday,
xo — Belle