Good morning, Bright Siders. And welcome, October. 🍂
When I launched The Bright Side this time last year, the world was in a dark(er) place. We were in the final weeks leading up to a contentious U.S. presidential election. We were simultaneously staring down our first COVID winter. Vaccine approvals were still weeks away; rollouts were a far-off thought. For many, the holiday season would be one spent without travel or seeing loved ones.
My goal for starting The Bright Side was to send little snippets of sunshine to your inboxes; to remind you to look for the silver linings on grey days; to take a few minutes for yourself every other Friday morning, smile, breathe, and know that someone’s cheering you on.
And it worked.
How do I know? Because you all shined your positivity right back. ✨
Whether you took the time to comment on a post, share a story with a friend, respond via email, or text to tell me about how that day’s newsletter made you feel—you did it!
We did it. Our collective positivity emanated. And for that, I thank you.
So, what happens next?
First, I’m going to give myself a little pat on the back for one year of The Bright Side and six years of Amanda Wowk Creative. Then, I’m going to rest. And read. And travel. And then I plan to be back in January 2022.
In the meantime, I’m planning to pick up Adam Grant’s new book Think Again. It’s a book about how to embrace the power of changing our minds—and giving ourselves the permission to do it. Hint, hint.
I’ll see you in ‘22.
Supplemental reading: And now, for the top 5 posts chosen by you:
5. On letting the dots connect
4. Ho Ho Hope
2. On optimism