Un-spent Regrets
An Icebreaker experiment. Chime in!
Today, another little experiment.
Usually, the Icebreaker of the Week is a secondary item in the newsletter. But what if it stood on its own? Would readers (like you) be more likely to actually answer in the comments? Would that be fun?
There’s only one way to find out . . .
Noticing is about other people, too. The Icebreaker series aims to help with that. There’s a central collection spot for all the icebreakers to date, here.
Today’s icebreaker comes from TAoN favorite Judi K.
What is something you decided not to spend money on — that you now wish you had?
Judi adds that she raised this question during a gathering of nine childhood friends, all turning 80 this year1. “Travel was the general consensus, except for me,” she writes. “I would have purchased a 50”-wide loom as soon as I began weaving, instead of waiting several years to invest in one.”
The first thing I think of is travel-related. A project that E and I created with our friend G.K. was included in the official U.S. exhibition at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. Obviously we should have gone, but I was worried about money at the time, so we didn’t. Ugh.
What about you? What should you have spent money on?
Please send your favorite icebreaker (whether you made it up or found it elsewhere) to consumed@robwalker.net.
OKAY THAT’S IT!
As always, I value your feedback (suggestions, critiques, positive reinforcement, constructive insults directed at me, not at anyone else, etc.), as well as your tips or stories or personal noticing rituals, things we need a word for, and of course your icebreakers: consumed@robwalker.net. Or use the comments.
—> Or just click the heart symbol. That always makes my day.
And thanks for reading …
rw
All this by Rob Walker (unless otherwise noted) PO Box 171, 748 Mehle St., Arabi LA 70032.
To unsubscribe see the bottom of the email, or go here.
How cool is that?
Food at the coast guard festival when my daughter's friends unexpectedly joined us. Instead I made a bit of a fuss and made everyone split a burger. Four years.This is stuck in my head as a failure. Not so much because I didn't spend the money, but because I didn't just go with the flow more. I'm sorry my kids had to experience that version of me. The rigid, inflexible me. My later versions are so much more relaxed.
Nothing comes to mind immediately but it raises the bigger question: which regrets could I have prevented, perhaps with money?