I feel lonely when I get on the internet sometimes. During one of those times, I sent out this email to my email list (are you on it?). I got a few heartfelt responses back that yes, it is possible to make friends on the internet. It’s all in how you use it.

One of the most fascinating ways I’m seeing people think about the internet right now is in the concept of the Slow Web. Lots of people are contributing to this, Brian Bailey’s idea of an Uncommon community being one I find most interesting. (I’ve collected several things to water my enthusiasm about being intentional on the web. If you have something to add, would you send it to me?)

The idea of the Slow Web, and of making real, thoughtful connections, is one of the reasons I’m taking time every morning to make a real connection with someone. Yesterday, I wrote a note, and I scanned it into my computer and emailed it to children’s book illustrator Laura Zarrin. She wrote back! So instead of getting in touch with someone new today, I’ll continue that conversation.

I’m curious about how people are using the web to make better connections, rather than superficial ones. If you have something that’s working for you, let me know (through email or by commenting).

“I found a renewed inspiration for the web, quit my job and started my own business. I am sooooo much happier, am proud once again of the work I do and wanted to reach out to you to let you know that you played a part in that huge life change.” – R.

I’ve been working so hard at A Small Nation for the past six months. Re-designing the site, working on new content, creating space for our new course. I had almost decided to let go of this site, since I figured a person only needs one blog.

But then Monday, we started this Show and Don’t Tell at A Small Nation, and I made something!

It felt so good to just make something without having to figure out who it was for and what the benefits were. GOOD GOD! I am not even kidding. I had no idea what I was missing.

I’ve also been reading Life is a Verb by Patti Digh (due to Colleen’s recommendation…I read anything she suggests), and the very first sentence is one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“At some point in your life, you’ll only have thirty-seven days to live. Maybe that day is today. Maybe not.” – Patti Digh, Life is a Verb

I’ve been doing weird things like lighting birthday candles for made-up occasions (like “Good Attitude Day”) and saying “WOW! A SPOON!” every time I come in contact with one.

I’m also doing Patti’s Project 137 which is encouraging me to live fully and be in community with a bunch of other wonderful people who are doing it at the same time.

Then I read this article on how successful people spend the first hour of their day, and one of the things was connecting with someone. So for the past few days, I’ve been doing that. I’ve been reaching out to someone, whether it be a friend or a customer or a peer or some random person I follow on Twitter, and I’ve been looking with curiosity at who they are and what’s going on in their lives. And then I’ve been connecting with them in some way.

That’s what I’m getting ready to do right now. I’m going to go on Twitter, and I’m going to connect with the next person who tweets something in my feed. Even though it’s not the first hour of my day (more like my 12th), this day has been unproductive and I feel like a zombie. I figure being interested in someone else’s life is a good way to get me to stop focusing on my own sucky day and start over. (Actually, there was one hugely bright spot in my day, and that was my Doodles to Noodle session with David Cohen! He was also the inspiration for me to start blogging again.) Hello, tweet:

This is particularly sad to me given my family’s relationship with Alzheimers. bit.ly/OKylgE

— Laura Zarrin (@LauraZarrin) August 30, 2012

Oh, it’s Laura Zarrin! And Maria Popova’s selection on Hayley Morris’ work around altzheimers (which I started watching just now but couldn’t; so sad).

After looking at her blog for a bit, I think my favorite thing is this nervous tick. Ha!

I really admire artists who use the web as a promotional tool. It’s got to be a challenge to keep making your art when all of the marketing advice points to “Find a need and fill it!”. Maybe we should start saying “Find a void and fill it”. We’re all such needy creatures, but most of our needs are already met in a multitude of ways. But a void? There’s always a void. And I think art fills a lot of them.

Off to write a note to Laura. And (finally) start my day off on the right foot.

I’m so excited. It’s like…whoomp. There it is. (I did not just say that.) Find out more or register here. (Also…this sales page is the absolute best one I’ve ever made. I am so proud. Sniff.)

Just a quick note that I’m currently only sharing with email subscribers right now. Lots of new things are coming (A Small Nation is getting ready to launch it’s second big iteration, the Tour de Bliss is getting ready to depart again, and this website is shifting gears).

So…subscribe if you’d like to hear from me. I send (really) good emails…about entrepreneurship, design, pursuing business utopia, risk-taking, creative collaboration, web strategy, breaking self-limiting beliefs, and all sorts of screw-ups that happen along the way. And in the future, that will be the sole place that I’ll be writing (besides contributing to A Small Nation), so I’d love to share with you there.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Every time I go public with a project, I take a few weeks off to collect myself. I never officially announce it, but it always happens, so I’m embracing it. This time, I took several weeks off from writing to get the Tour de Bliss up and running. I’m pouring a good portion of my creative energy these days into making that experience fantastic (while also building Treacy’s digital nation, contributing to Kelly’s Content Dreamhouse, and working with my brilliant friends Julianne Carson and Jeff Dear on a new book to help non-designers become better visual communicators.)

On top of that, this week I’m heading out to NYC for the 99% conference. I’m slightly terrified. Mainly because I’m taking the train to Newark, arriving in the wee hours of the night, and then taking a taxi to my best friend’s parents’ house in Harrison. I have no idea where any of those places are and am not too keen on walking around New Jersey by myself at 2 in the morning. Who planned this thing anyway? Don’t answer that.

So this is me, dipping my toe into writing publicly again. Dip, dip.

It’s…3 in the morning! And I probably shouldn’t be posting things at 3 in the morning. But you know what? I can now. Because I’ve officially updated my site to include a regular, plain old blog again. Like the kind we had back in the day when your content didn’t have to be so amazing that people cried every time they gazed upon it.

Hello, blog!

(If you’re not subscribed to the RSS feed, you might want to take this opportunity to do so. I don’t send these kind of blog posts to the email list. It just wouldn’t be right.)

Yep! I did it!

…with Kelly Parkinson of Copylicious. Shhhh…