Serendipity. That you downloaded the exact book you needed to read. And you get to share it with us! I love recommendation #2 about poking holes in our alternate lives. I’m going see if my library has the book. Sounds like a must read.
Ahhhh! The Midnight Library changed my life too!!! It will forever be one of the greatest books ever. I'm so glad to see it out in the wild like this, changing lives 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Chris, this might be my favorite post of yours yet! I really needed to read this today. I had forgotten about that quote from Cormac McCarthy 👏 All very good reminders to appreciate the life we have been given.
This was a terrific post, Chris, glad I discovered it, and as long and overwhelming as my TBR pile is, I think I'll have to read the Midnight Library.
It's such a natural human thing to have regrets and think about alternatives, but I think there's a healthy way to go about doing this - not to beat ourselves up about the past and the what-ifs but to speculate as a mere fun exercise in contemplating alternatives. I am/was a long-time English teacher and when it came time to teaching grammar like conditionals (If I hadn't done this, then I would be so happy!) or past modals (I shouldn't have done that!) I would always give my philosophical speech about how this is not the way we should be living our lives, but hey, it's grammar, you need to learn it, so shut up and let's have fun with it. I think there can be fun and healthy regrets.
The past few years have been featured some ridiculous twists and turns and when I describe my situation to a stranger they are somewhat amazed that I've been able to keep it together. Humour and focusing on silver linings helps. If you are interested, I'd be happy to share with you the epilogue to my first (and so far, only) book, it covers so much of the same ground as you've discussed here with the butterfly effect and all that - one of my favourite quotations that underpins so much of my book is from Milan Kundera: "The 'lightness of being' warned us that life allows us no revisions or second drafts, and this could be 'unbearable', but it could also be liberating."
(the TL;DR version: I had to leave Ukraine with my family in Feb 2022, never thought I'd be in Ukraine at all, original plans fell through way back in 2010 and one thing led to another, now in Vienna, unemployed, in debt, trying to write, just got divorced, life's totally uncertain, etc, etc).
Honestly, all I can do sometimes is laugh at the absurdity of life.
Thank you so much for your note, Daniel. I really appreciate your comment, and I'm glad the post resonated. It's definitely something I struggle with from time to time, but I like to think I'm getting better at letting go.
yes - would love to read the epilogue!
And I'm so sorry for all that you've been through recently.
No pressure at all to read - my book is interspersed with Interludes throughout that offered snippets of life in Ukraine, but this epilogue tries to summarise it all. I'll just leave it here in case anyone else seeing this wants to read it as well.
I'm reading this book right now! So many of the alternate lives you contemplate are similar to the ones I do, too. I actually did travel after college and still ended up burned out from following my dream. Sorry to hear about your health condition. Glad you're using it for good. <3
Yes, so true! Currently struggling with the opposing advantages and disadvantages of a life full of travel (full of travel, but no roots) versus a more homely life (friends & family around, but no adventure). Everything has its good and bad sides!
Thanks Jane! One thing I've come around to is that there are seasons in life. What we think is either/or can be both/and. For example, there may be a season for travel and a season for staying close to home. This has helped free me from fear of missing out on certain things. (Although I still fall into that trap often!)
Absolutely love this Chris - especially the steps you lay out. I've heard a lot about the midnight library but always feel a resistance to reading it... maybe because I'm afraid of how it will challenge my mind's preconceived notions? I've also heard it's quite sad??
Hi Zan! I'd say that it's not an easy, light read. Parts of it are definitely sad, but - and I don't want to give away the end - it's not soul-crushing either. Everything ties together eventually.
One of the things I love about your newsletter is that I keep having to say “This is my new favorite piece of yours!” so often that it starts to lose meaning. But in all seriousness, this is. There’s so much richness here. 💫
Such an amazing book! The Comfort Book by Matt Haig helped me get through a very dark period a few years ago. Love how you incorporated The Midnight Library into this wonderful post about appreciation. Think I need to reread it myself too.
Love this, Chris. And will have to add this to my TBR. Us 90s girls had Gwyneth and "Sliding Doors" to give us the What If/Which Choice Is Best conundrum. My question is, Why don't we make the most of what we have instead of thinking we somehow missed out? You remain a sage, my friend. xo
Thanks for this lovely post. The Midnight Library is a delightful book. I’m so glad it found you at just the right time. Thanks for sharing your reflections on it - wise and thought-provoking.
Chris, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for this post. It's exactly what I needed to read - as indeed is The Midnight Library. Thank you so much. 😊
Serendipity. That you downloaded the exact book you needed to read. And you get to share it with us! I love recommendation #2 about poking holes in our alternate lives. I’m going see if my library has the book. Sounds like a must read.
Thanks Kim! I hope your library has it.
Ahhhh! The Midnight Library changed my life too!!! It will forever be one of the greatest books ever. I'm so glad to see it out in the wild like this, changing lives 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Thanks Mesa! I haven't read it since last year, but now I want to again!
I feel like it's a good once a year book! Just to keep perspective 😍😍😍
Especially since i know how long it will take to read now 😊. I really have no excuse.
I love this idea of the book choosing the reader.
Thanks Steve! And to think I could have accidentally downloaded a cookbook or Curious George or something.
Chris, this might be my favorite post of yours yet! I really needed to read this today. I had forgotten about that quote from Cormac McCarthy 👏 All very good reminders to appreciate the life we have been given.
Thanks Annie! That means so much. Yes - that quote is great! I was trying to find it in my notes and found it at the last minute.
This was a terrific post, Chris, glad I discovered it, and as long and overwhelming as my TBR pile is, I think I'll have to read the Midnight Library.
It's such a natural human thing to have regrets and think about alternatives, but I think there's a healthy way to go about doing this - not to beat ourselves up about the past and the what-ifs but to speculate as a mere fun exercise in contemplating alternatives. I am/was a long-time English teacher and when it came time to teaching grammar like conditionals (If I hadn't done this, then I would be so happy!) or past modals (I shouldn't have done that!) I would always give my philosophical speech about how this is not the way we should be living our lives, but hey, it's grammar, you need to learn it, so shut up and let's have fun with it. I think there can be fun and healthy regrets.
The past few years have been featured some ridiculous twists and turns and when I describe my situation to a stranger they are somewhat amazed that I've been able to keep it together. Humour and focusing on silver linings helps. If you are interested, I'd be happy to share with you the epilogue to my first (and so far, only) book, it covers so much of the same ground as you've discussed here with the butterfly effect and all that - one of my favourite quotations that underpins so much of my book is from Milan Kundera: "The 'lightness of being' warned us that life allows us no revisions or second drafts, and this could be 'unbearable', but it could also be liberating."
(the TL;DR version: I had to leave Ukraine with my family in Feb 2022, never thought I'd be in Ukraine at all, original plans fell through way back in 2010 and one thing led to another, now in Vienna, unemployed, in debt, trying to write, just got divorced, life's totally uncertain, etc, etc).
Honestly, all I can do sometimes is laugh at the absurdity of life.
Thank you so much for your note, Daniel. I really appreciate your comment, and I'm glad the post resonated. It's definitely something I struggle with from time to time, but I like to think I'm getting better at letting go.
yes - would love to read the epilogue!
And I'm so sorry for all that you've been through recently.
Thanks Chris - but hey, this is life (I guess)?
No pressure at all to read - my book is interspersed with Interludes throughout that offered snippets of life in Ukraine, but this epilogue tries to summarise it all. I'll just leave it here in case anyone else seeing this wants to read it as well.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EzjG8CAavQmQa5DNAUqfyzk-N7hXkY9j/view?usp=sharing
Thanks Daniel, I really appreciate you sharing it. I will take a look!
I absolutely love your take on one of my favourite books.
You've actually decoded the essence of the book so well.
Reading your post is probably going to be the best thing I'll read on the internet today, if not the entire week.
I'm so glad you found my post on Threads, and I'm grateful you chose to reply and share this link with me.
Keep Going Keep Growing 🚀
Thank you so much Manish! 🙏 This means a lot.
I'm reading this book right now! So many of the alternate lives you contemplate are similar to the ones I do, too. I actually did travel after college and still ended up burned out from following my dream. Sorry to hear about your health condition. Glad you're using it for good. <3
Thanks Suzanne!
Yes, so true! Currently struggling with the opposing advantages and disadvantages of a life full of travel (full of travel, but no roots) versus a more homely life (friends & family around, but no adventure). Everything has its good and bad sides!
Thanks Jane! One thing I've come around to is that there are seasons in life. What we think is either/or can be both/and. For example, there may be a season for travel and a season for staying close to home. This has helped free me from fear of missing out on certain things. (Although I still fall into that trap often!)
What a great way to see how beautiful your life really is!
Thank you!
Absolutely love this Chris - especially the steps you lay out. I've heard a lot about the midnight library but always feel a resistance to reading it... maybe because I'm afraid of how it will challenge my mind's preconceived notions? I've also heard it's quite sad??
I think I'm gonna give it a go now though
Hi Zan! I'd say that it's not an easy, light read. Parts of it are definitely sad, but - and I don't want to give away the end - it's not soul-crushing either. Everything ties together eventually.
Thanks for that! I think It will be next on my list - currently devouring some Jed McKenna (which I did not think I would enjoy as much as I am)
Thanks for your writing and thanks for this book recommendation ! Wishing you many enriching experiences in your life !
Thanks Prashant!
One of the things I love about your newsletter is that I keep having to say “This is my new favorite piece of yours!” so often that it starts to lose meaning. But in all seriousness, this is. There’s so much richness here. 💫
Thanks Maddie! 🙏
Such an amazing book! The Comfort Book by Matt Haig helped me get through a very dark period a few years ago. Love how you incorporated The Midnight Library into this wonderful post about appreciation. Think I need to reread it myself too.
Thanks Jackie! I'll take a look at that other book.
Love this, Chris. And will have to add this to my TBR. Us 90s girls had Gwyneth and "Sliding Doors" to give us the What If/Which Choice Is Best conundrum. My question is, Why don't we make the most of what we have instead of thinking we somehow missed out? You remain a sage, my friend. xo
I just had to look up what Sliding Doors was. Had never heard of that movie before. Then again I'm not a 90s girl. 😂
Thanks for this lovely post. The Midnight Library is a delightful book. I’m so glad it found you at just the right time. Thanks for sharing your reflections on it - wise and thought-provoking.
Thanks Jackie!
Chris, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for this post. It's exactly what I needed to read - as indeed is The Midnight Library. Thank you so much. 😊
Aw, thanks Rebecca! I really appreciate it. 😊