Marginalia
You woke up on January 1st and it was a whole new year. Weird how there’s this sense of expectation heaped on to this one specific day of the calendar.
You’re probably figuring out what 2023 is going to mean for you. You may be putting together resolutions (or not). Doing some strategic planning. Pulling your cards. Cleaning out your socials. Tidying up your living space. Replacing your smoke detector batteries. (If this isn’t already on your list, please stop reading and do this chore right now.)
But here’s something I bet you’re not doing.
I bet you’re not widening your margins.
When I read books for school, or certifications, or to scratch my own curiosity itches, I often leave future me some little notes in the margins. I look up words I don’t know and write down their definitions. I pull out themes or make connections to other things I know and love. I make notes on things to explore further. Sometimes I’m in a one-sided conversation with the author. I am a very specific type of nerd.
The margins become crowded with thoughts, notes, and doodles. In some cases, post-it notes are applied to give me more space.
When you arrive at a new year, a fresh start, or you’re trying something for the first time, you deserve more margins.
Specifically, three types of margins:
Time - Learning something new takes time (even for my perfectionist friends). It will feel like work. It will feel like learning. Until it doesn’t. Part of the joy is in giving yourself the room and the space for the learning. It’s not a race, even if what you’re welcoming in is intentional and deadlined.
Error - You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to fail in increments or spectacularly. You’re going to bounce back and try again. Without the margins for error, you’re denying yourself the growth that comes from learning from the errors.
Exploration - You can do things by the book, or you can do things by YOUR book. The former is often prescribed based on “how it’s always worked for others.” The latter dives fully into The Funknown (™) and allows you the opportunity to think big thoughts and discover and play and embrace the adventure.
