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Hey Reader, I’ve got a touch of the “June’s Over” blues. June is the Friday of summer. Maybe also the Thursday night. It’s the part where the whole break stretches in front of you and promises to be the launchpad for everything you’ve ever planned to do but haven’t had time to. Get storage bins for winter stuff and reorganize the closet. BTW, I have the same expectations of an average weekend as I do an entire summer. I suffer from what I call time dysmorphia.* One thing I do look forward to about July, which makes it potentially the most fruitful part of the summer but also a likely month of pure f*cking off, is a practice I started last year: I now take the whole month off the clock. Not off work, necessarily. I’ll still write emails. My friend Ron Reich told me, “You should only email on days when you want to make money.” Well, that’s every day. But I might chill a little on them for a bit anyway. Otherwise, July is completely** blocked off. No appointments, meetings, or anything where I, Laura Belgray, am expected. Nothing that requires me to look at the calendar or the clock and apologize if I blow it off or show up late. To me, there’s nothing more luxurious than forgetting about time altogether. (Except for the Bell Biv DeVoe alarm that goes off nightly at 10:30pm. When my iPad starts playing those first bars of “Poison,” it’s time for my sleep gummy. Camino Midnight Blueberry Indica blend for the win.) I love this way of life so much, I extended it to the first two weeks of every month year-round. I know not everyone can do this. Actually, few can. If you’re one of them, I heartily recommend you give it a try sometime. Now off to write a novel and read the whole bookstore at the same time. Why not? I’ve got time. xoLaura PS - *I talk about my time dysmorphia in Tough Titties, which happens to be a perfect summer read. See the chapter titled “Sorry I’m Late.” PPS - **I’m making just one exception: a special, free writing session just for you Shrimpers with my friend Terri Trespicio — a taste of her fabulous drop-in writing program, New Rules Studio. If you’re interested, click here so I can keep you in the loop. Love Shrimp Mail? Forward this to a friend so they can get in on the action and sign up below.
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"Yours are the only emails I actually open and read" - a regular reply in my inbox since 2009...and I'll bet in yours, too, once you subscribe and learn by pure, lazy osmosis to become the most compelling writer around. That said, no promises on improving your moral character.
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