All The Things
Monday Missives #2
I was sitting in my favorite spot at home and thinking about how often I use the phrase “all the things.” Just this past weekend, when I was out and about and spent time with various constellations of friends in all sorts of different settings, I used it at least a bajillion times. It feels like short hand. Or a short cut. A quick summary to cut to the chase and skip over the details.
It also seems to imply that the other person will understand I exactly what I mean. I am assuming they will know what “all of the things” are—what they include or do not include. And given that people always nod vigorously in agreement when I say it (I know I do when someone else says it), it would seem that they do know. Or maybe they have no idea what I mean and are filling in the blanks with whatever “all the things” means to them. Does that mean we are constantly talking about completely different things without even knowing it? Maybe. Maybe not.
As I sit here right now, of course, I cannot think of even one example that reflects how I use this phrase with such wild abandon. Maybe it will come to me.
Meals Out: Oak Stone Craft Pizza & Bar (I always get one of their pizzas—you can choose from one the standards, or you can customize your own with all the things), Old Town Diner (they have an incredible breakfast sausage—it’s huge!—and the menu, although pared down, has all the things you could ever want for breakfast)
Listening (voice): Freakonomics Radio (podcast), Episode 616. How to Make Something from Nothing. (catching up on some older episodes and this one was one of my faves; Steven Dubner talks to Adam Moss about all the things you wanna hear if you are making a big change or starting over/something new or just making stuff or just wanna hear a cool conversation between two smart people; makes me want to get Adam’s book The Work of Art)
Listening (song most likely on repeat): Tidal Wave, Old Sea Bridge (this one makes me feel all the things; pro-tip: the acoustic version is also very good)
Watching: Murder, She Wrote, Season 4 on Amazon Prime (yep, I am still working on this monster of a catalog. For whatever reason, I can’t bring myself to dive into the Yellowstone (or Landman or Lioness) universe even though I hear it is all the things good in TV)
Reading: The Practice: Shipping Creative Work, Seth Godin (a friend of mine gave me this book at the end of 2024 when I was finishing my book as a way to encourage me with all the things to get it done, not perfect)
Most Hours Logged Doing: This weekend, I did all the things—including lunching, brunching, reading, talking, and walking. But the highlight was going to a Gladiator 2-themed birthday party for one of my favorite teens who just turned fifteen. “What the hell, bro!” #iykyk
Monday Morning Mediation: 1.27.25
The most loving thing I can do, not just for another person but also for myself, is to pause, step aside and watch; to give others the dignity of the consequences (good or bad) of their choices; and to allow myself to take risks that lead to a life with greater intimacy.
